Counter-Stereotypical Priming: Exploring Children’s Gender Norms & Sports Preferences
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2025-07-08
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en
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Gender differences in sports often start already early in life and are shaped by social norms and stereotypes. This thesis explores whether counter-stereotypical priming, through short stories that challenge traditional gender stereotypes in sports, can influence how children think about and choose sports. A behavioural experiment was conducted with Dutch primary school children aged 7 to 10, where different classes were assigned to either a neutral or counter-stereotypical story condition. After hearing the stories, children chose between boxing and gymnastics, then answered questions about what sport they thought others expected them to choose, what sport they would recommend to others and how suitable they found each sport for boys and girls. The results show that girls who heard counter-stereotypical stories were significantly more likely to choose boxing, which is a sport that is typically seen as masculine. No significant effects were found for boys or on broader perceptions of gender and sport suitability. These findings suggest that a short priming intervention can shift individual preferences, particularly among girls, but may not be enough to affect broader gender norms.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen