Math-gender stereotypes in Chile: Identification of associated factors across youth and adults

Math-gender stereotypes that associate math more with males than females are a contributing factor to the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields. Given the pronounced gender disparities in math achievements in Chile, this study investigates these stereotypes within the Chilean context, examining their incidence and associated factors in two distinct age groups: adults and youth. Participants included adults (n = 5,038) and youth (n = 846) from the Encuesta Nacional de Percepción Social de la Ciencia, Tecnología, Conoci- miento e Innovación study. Information on math-gender stereotypes, sociode- mographics, and science perceptions were collected via participants’ reports. Logistic regression analyses using sampling weights were conducted in the two groups. Adults exhibited significantly higher levels of math-gender stereotypes compared to youth. Both groups shared factors associated with the probability of endorsing stereotypes (educational level, socioeconomic status, perception towards science). Conversely, sex emerged as a significant predictor for youth but not for adults. Findings suggest that math-gender stereotypes persist at different age groups in Chile, albeit with varying degrees. Socioeconomic disparities and the value towards science emerged as significant precursors across all groups.