The study found that the female students had an aversion to subjects that required analytical thinking and did not require much social and emotional skills in everyday working life.
Keystone / Gaetan Bally
Women are less likely than men to pursue maths-related subjects due to preconceived notions about these fields, despite having comparable mathematical aptitude to men, according to a sociological study by the University of Zurich (UZH).
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/amva
The study, conducted by UZH sociologist Benita Combet, presented 1,500 female and male high school students with various fictitious fields of study with distinct characteristics. Combet found that the female students had an aversion to subjects that required analytical thinking and did not require much social and emotional skills in everyday working life. The female students also preferred occupational fields with the possibility of part-time work.
The results also show that women have higher risk and competition aversion than men, and they tend to avoid competitive situations, even if their performance does not differ from their male counterpart. In addition, the social norms that expect women to behave communally and present themselves in a self-deprecating way undermine their odds in competitive and bargaining situations, resulting in them avoiding competitive fields for fear of being penalised for violating these norms.
However, the ability to think logically is a basic prerequisite for almost every course of study. There is a necessity to better inform young women about the subjects they study, and demonstrate the importance of interpersonal and creative skills in engineering studies.
Combet explained that strong gender-specific stereotypes about logical thinking style and technical skills significantly influence the decision of female high school students and called for these stereotypes to be challenged.
Popular Stories
More
Demographics
Flat-hunting in Switzerland’s cheapest and most expensive municipalities
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
20 Minuten: last Swiss free daily to stop being printed
This content was published on
From the end of the year, there will no longer be a daily free newspaper in Switzerland: the TX Group is discontinuing the print version of "20 Minuten". Up to 80 full-time positions are to be cut in the editorial and publishing departments.
This content was published on
The Swiss population is in favour of compulsory military service and closer ties with NATO. These are the findings of the "Security 2025" study.
Irregular migration to Switzerland halves year-on-year
This content was published on
Irregular migration to Switzerland has decreased significantly. The figures from January to May show that only half as many illegal stays were recorded compared to the same period last year.
This content was published on
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is to cut around 3,500 jobs as a result of financial cuts linked in particular to US decisions. Hundreds of temporary contracts will also be cut, the UN agency said in Geneva on Monday.
Swiss government to help cantons in expelling rejected asylum-seekers
This content was published on
The federal government is to provide greater relief and support to the cantons when it comes to deporting people who are not entitled to asylum in Switzerland.
This content was published on
One in four people in Switzerland feel stressed often or almost always. Among the under-30s, the figure is as high as 40 per cent. This is according to the "Health Forecast" study financed by health insurer Sanitas.
This content was published on
The permafrost in the Swiss Alps is thawing faster and faster. The thawed top layers of permafrost have never been as thick as they were last year. This is shown by the latest data from the Swiss permafrost monitoring network Permos.
Landslide in Blatten causes CHF320 million in damage
This content was published on
The landslide in Blatten VS and the resulting floods caused damage totalling CHF 320 million. Around CHF 260 million of this was due to damage to buildings and household contents, according to estimates by Swiss private insurers.
Failure to help rape victims remains unpunishable in Switzerland
This content was published on
Failing to come to the aid of a rape victim will remain unpunishable. Against the advice of the National Council, the Council of States on Monday rejected by 30 votes to 13 a Socialist parliamentary initiative to review the current law.
Elderly Swiss women bring European court’s first climate case
This content was published on
A group of Swiss women have taken their government to Strasbourg over what they claim is its failure to take stronger action on climate change.
This content was published on
The Taliban have banned women from working for aid agencies. This week on the Inside Geneva podcast, host Imogen Foulkes asks: what will this mean?
This content was published on
Firms invested CHF16.8 billion ($18 billion) in research and development activities in Switzerland last year, a 4% increase compared to 2019.
Women’s organisations satisfied one year after historic session
This content was published on
One year after the Women’s Session 2021, an alliance of women’s organisations has drawn a positive assessment of the exercise.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.