The 'Missing Species' - Female Students in STEM-Fields A qualitative study on young Austrian female students in gender-typical disciplines and STEM-fields

摘要

Even though women in Europe, nowadays, have reached the highest education level ever in history, they are still underrepresented in STEM-fields. This study tries to identify factors that make young women opt for a gender-typical or gender-atypical study discipline. Especially the impact of teachers is focused on. 36 young women (n=36) were interviewed on motives related to their choice of academic studies. Various career choice theories form the theoretical framework. Recommendation on how to possibly raise the number of females in STEM-fields by improving the conditions in the school context conclude the study.