Impact of gender stereotypes and their incidence on students' mental image of mathematicians: an analysis in the educational context
Abstract
This research article addresses the problem that arises when students construct a mental image of mathematicians based on social and gender stereotypes. The objective of the study is to identify what image the university students have about the qualities that mathematicians have and their influence on the taste for mathematics, student performance and future decisions. The methodology used was mixed: qualitative and quantitative, and cross-sectional, with a descriptive scope of correlational type; the research design is field research, since a survey was applied to a sample of 357 students from the faculties of Engineering and social sciences. The main results obtained describe the perception of mathematicians who are mostly men and possess a notable attribute of seriousness. It is also commonly believed that they tend to wear glasses and comb their hair in a particular way. In addition, the majority of the surveyed population agrees that mathematicians are primarily engaged in teaching. Another finding is the fact that students tend to associate with mathematicians in their family and social circles. They also express their desire to be mathematicians because of their perception of mathematics as a very practical discipline.
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