Stagnant Masculinities and Missing Awareness of the Gender Gap in STEM. A Situated Qualitative Analysis on Past-Present-Future

Abstract

The engineering disciplines, or careers rooted in the field of STEM, struggle with the gender gap because they are embedded in a sociocultural and historical context in which hierarchically organized masculinities are derived and reproduced within the structures of an unequal society. This paper aims to critically discuss why male engineering students often fail to recognize the dissimilar gender relationships in society and engineering. Based on qualitative research regarding the future time perspective and an intersectional gender analysis, preliminary results are presented, derived from a survey conducted with a sample of 40 undergraduate students from the Engineering Faculty of the National University of Jujuy (UNJu) in Argentina. The analysis reveals that male students are not widely aware of the history of gender relations, are unfamiliar with female scientists, and do not recognize the importance of gender equity. In conclusion, I suggest rethinking educational strategies and redefining masculinity, thereby allowing new models to emerge for a more inclusive environment and culture in engineering.