ERIC Number: EJ1300331
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021-Aug
Pages: 26
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0272-4316
EISSN: N/A
The STEM Pipeline: Do Media and Objectified Body Consciousness Create an Early Exit for Middle School Girls?
Daniels, Elizabeth A.; Robnett, Rachael D.
Journal of Early Adolescence, v41 n7 p1099-1124 Aug 2021
Girls and women are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. Research has investigated various explanatory factors (e.g., lack of role models, sexism) in these patterns. However, to date, the roles of media use and body concerns have not been examined. This study investigated associations among appearance-focused social media behaviors (e.g., posting photos), objectified body consciousness (i.e., body shame, body surveillance), and attitudes toward math and science (i.e., self-expectancy, task value, cost, future plans) in a sample of U.S. middle school girls (N = 243). Results demonstrated that body shame partially mediated associations between appearance-focused social media behaviors and math and science attitudes. These findings suggest that media use and body concerns have implications for girls' involvement in STEM fields.
Descriptors: STEM Education, Gender Bias, Disproportionate Representation, Mass Media Effects, Human Body, Social Influences, Social Bias, Student Attitudes, Middle School Students, Females, Correlation, Social Media, Sex Stereotypes, Aesthetics, Value Judgment, Expectation, Grades (Scholastic), Mathematics Achievement, Science Achievement
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A

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