are children’s job aspirations defined by gender
TRANSCRIPT
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
