Shattering Stereotypes

 

Shattering Stereotypes is a projecting that tackles and raises awareness of gender stereotyping in schools and how it can affect subject choice at GCSE and beyond.

In the last few years research by the Institute of Physics (IOP) and many others has shown that the lack of girls taking physics at A-Level is part of a wider problem; gender stereotyping in schools. The report Closing Doors concluded that schools which had low numbers of girls doing physics also had a small number of boys doing subjects which were stereotypically seen as girl subjects. Following this the IOP ran the Opening Doors project which generated a best practice guide for schools looking to tackle gender stereotyping.

Shattering Stereotypes builds on the best practice outlined in Opening Doors. The project is being piloted by the South East Physics network (SEPnet) in schools across the South East of England. The huge lack of diversity in physics is a problem that SEPnet partners are passionate about and are piloting this project as they want to tackle this problem.

Shattering Stereotypes is a set of three workshops for Year 8 students which aim to raise awareness of what gender stereotypes are, in particular:

• Gender Stereotypes in the context of a student’s everyday life.
• Gender Stereotypes and a student’s possible career path.

The project also aims to empower students so they can identify and challenge situations where they are presented with these stereotypes.