Absence of gender bias in school encourages women to study science

Gender bias is when a person or society unconsciously holds fixed assumptions or prejudices about gender differences and gender roles. In Japan, there is a slang term for women in the sciences called “rikejo.” The very fact that such a particular term has been coined suggests that there are not many women active in the science field.

In fact, according to a survey conducted by the government in 2021, the percentage of female students in university science and technology departments is 28% and 17% in engineering departments.

Gender bias affects career choice

Why do so few female students choose to study the sciences? Surveys of academic performance in science and math subjects in elementary, middle and high schools show that there is not much difference between boys and girls. This data indicates that this is not due to girls’ poor academic performance. For women, it is due to social prejudice and the lack of role models as they get older.

One of Tokyo’s middle and high schools for girls gives us a clue to solving this issue.

Communicating the joy of learning

At Toshimagaoka Girls’ School, for about 20 years now, the number of students choosing the sciences has outnumbered those choosing the humanities. Looking at last year’s college acceptance results by field of study, “science and engineering” was the most popular field at 34%.

However, the school is not actively guiding students to choose science.
In the second year of junior high school, students experience an internship at a company. In the third year of junior high school, they participate in a group interview with a graduate who has entered the workforce. High school students can visit university faculty members and visit their laboratories.

These are opportunities for students to think about their own future vision, including post-college employment. Graduates who are active in science fields, such as architects and system engineers, become the most familiar role models for the students.

According to the head of this school, “Since it is an all-girls school, there are few opportunities to be compared with boys, and they are not exposed to gender bias nearly as much. They are genuinely finding what they want to do.”

土曜日午後、TGサポーターがはじまりました。 https://t.co/FzVCxFh7pK

— 豊島岡女子学園 (@TOSHIMAGAOKAJG) May 11, 2022

The example of this school shows that creating familiar role models is good for motivation to study. Due to the development of IT society and other factors, there is an increasing demand for human resources in science fields. We look forward to the creation of an environment where female students can learn what they genuinely love without being subjected to unconscious gender bias.