Gender Difference in STEM Career Aspiration and Social-Cognitive Factors in Collectivist and Individualist Cultures

Abstract

Gender equity in STEM demands that girls and women are provided with learning experiences, opportunities, and resources that meet their educational and vocational goals. This study examined gender difference in STEM learning experience, parental involvement, and self-efficacy to predict STEM career aspiration of different sociocultural groups. Two independent samples of high school students, one recruited from a collectivist culture (Taiwanese sample, N = 590) and the other recruited randomly from an individualist culture (American sample, N = 590), were used to examine the differences. Findings suggested a greater gender difference in STEM learning experience, parental involvement, and STEM self-efficacy of students from the collectivist culture than students from the individualist culture. Results of logistic analyses showed differential prediction of STEM career aspiration in two different cultural contexts. Findings were discussed in light of socio-cultural contexts.