Research Article

Perceptions of Scientists and Stereotypes through the Eyes of Young School Children

Table 2

Students’ overall representation of scientists ().

All students (%)Female (%)Male (%)

Personal characteristics
 Lab coatsa66 (31.4)37 (34)29 (29)
 Eyeglasses57 (7.1)30 (27.7)27 (27)
 Facial hair08 (4.3)4 (3.7)4 (4)
 Unkempt appearance58 (28.1)27 (25)31 (31)

Symbols of research
 Test tubesa107 (51.0)58 (53)49 (49)
 Flasksa103 (49.0)59 (54)44 (44)
 Microscopes22 (10.5)7 (6)15 (15)
 Bunsen burnera35 (16.7)21 (19.4)14 (14)
 Experimental animals18 (8.6)13 (12)5 (5)

Symbols of knowledge
 Books08 (3.8)5 (4.6)3 (3)
 Filing cabinets12 (5.7)7 (6.4)5 (5)

Symbols of technology
 Solutions in glasswarea113 (53.8)60 (55.5)53 (53)
 Machines15 (7.6)7 (6.4)8 (8)

Gender of scientists
 Female49 (23.3)48 (44)1 (1)
 Male142 (68)53 (49)89 (91.7)

aConsidered as an indicator of a chemistry laboratory.