are children’s job aspirations defined by gender

Are children’s job aspirations defined by gender? A selection of drawings submitted by 7-11 year olds

“While these drawings might seem like a fairly light-hearted way to examine the topic of gender diversity, they are a

worrying indication that children are still associating certain job roles with specific genders. This early-age stereotyping

will likely impact the roles, industries and positions they look at as adults. More needs to be done to encourage diversity

and inclusion in schools and in the adult working world, but it is certainly our responsibility to lead by example.”

OLIVER WATSON, EXECUTIVE BOARD DIRECTOR FOR UK & NORTH AMERICA, PAGEGROUP

Our study revealed that young children in the UK hold gender-stereotyped views when it comes to specific job roles. Drawings from over one hundred children aged 7-11 were submitted. Each child was asked to draw a nurse, a builder, a lawyer and a banker, and also the job they aspire to when they grow up. Where gender was identifiable, the drawings showed a clear gender skew for specific roles:

•81% of children drew nurses as female;

•88% of children drew builders as male;

•80% of children drew bankers as male;

•65% of children drew lawyers as male making it the most gender balanced of the four professions

4 out of 5 children think banking is a man’s job and nursing is a woman’s

The following slides are a representative sample of the drawings submitted

Children’s drawings of their career

aspirations

Career aspirations – Dancer

Career aspirations – Alchemist

Career aspirations – Computer Programmer

Career aspirations – Game Coder

Career aspirations – Vet

Career aspirations – Vet #2

Career aspirations – Vet #3

Career aspirations – Teacher

Career aspirations – Electrician

Career aspirations – Rugby Player

Career aspirations – Palaeontologist

Career aspirations – Forensic Scientist

Career aspirations – Game Tester

Career aspirations – YouTuber

Career aspirations – Free Runner

Career aspirations – President

Career aspirations – Astronaut

Career aspirations – Explorer

Career aspirations – Explorer

Children’s drawings of builders

What does a builder look like? #1

What does a builder look like? #2

What does a builder look like? #3

What does a builder look like? #4

What does a builder look like? #5

Children’s drawings of nurses

What does a nurse look like? #1

What does a nurse look like? #2

What does a nurse look like? #3

What does a nurse look like? #4

What does a nurse look like? #5

Children’s drawings of bankers

What does a banker look like? #1

Children’s drawings of lawyers

What does a lawyer look like? #1

What does a lawyer look like? #2

What does a lawyer look like? #3

What does a lawyer look like? #4