Photo/Illutration An elementary school student learns through digital textbooks. (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

Children’s gender-based assumptions about career paths and occupations become stronger as they grow from elementary school into high school students, according to a Tokyo metropolitan government survey.

The Tokyo government first conducted an online survey in fiscal 2022 to see if children showed “unconscious biases” about gender.

It received a total of 9,695 responses from fifth- and sixth-graders who attended public elementary schools in the capital, as well as their parents and teachers.

Respondents were asked if they thought that “some jobs are suitable or unsuitable based on gender.”

To the question, 46.8 percent of male students and 39.8 percent of female students said, “I agree” or “I somewhat agree.”

Their parents and teachers showed similar perceptions.

Experts pointed out that these assumptions “may narrow children’s career paths and life choices.”

To clarify the actual impact of such assumptions on careers and choices, the metropolitan government conducted a survey in metropolitan high schools in fiscal 2023 and asked the same question.

The government then analyzed 13,312 responses collected from first- and second-year high school students and teachers.

This new survey showed that 65.7 percent of first-year male students said, “I agree” or “I somewhat agree,” while 65.1 percent of first-year female students said the same.

Among second-year high school students, 68.8 percent of males and 68.3 percent of females agreed or somewhat agreed.

The survey also listed several jobs and occupations and asked respondents if they considered these jobs to be particularly “masculine” or “feminine.”

The most common responses for both male and female students were that “construction and civil engineering jobs” were perceived as “masculine” while “nursery school and kindergarten teachers” were considered “feminine.”

The metropolitan government concluded that, “Male students are less likely to choose future occupations that they consider feminine, while female students are less likely to choose future occupations that they consider masculine.”

The government said that this tendency was more prominent among female students than male students.

The survey also asked respondents if they think that “people are good at or bad at certain subjects because of their gender.”

To this question, 37 percent of male high school students and 42.2 percent of female high school students said, “I agree” or “I somewhat agree.”

The metropolitan government concluded that as students age from elementary school to high school, and from first year to second year in high school, gender-based assumptions about career paths and occupations become stronger.

It also concluded that such assumptions influence the selection of career paths and occupations. 

Seeking to overcome these stereotypes, the metropolitan government has worked to raise awareness of the issue, stating that “it is highly likely that children are affected not only by the adults around them but also in various aspects of their daily lives.”

In fiscal 2023, the metropolitan government reached out to children and their parents by holding a quiz rally for them at KidZania Tokyo in the capital’s Koto Ward.

“We hope to develop projects to help (students) realize that gender is not a major reason” to consider certain career paths and choices, said a metropolitan government representative. 

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