What are they doing? : Tool use and self-image of girls aged 9 to12 when engaging in technology education

In the field of technology education differences between girls and boys have been researched for some time but there is still a lack of knowledge about what exactly these differences consist of, and why they exist. The aim of this study is to explore tool use and self-image of girls aged 9 to12 when engaging in technology education. Data was collected over a course of two weeks, involving one Swedish compulsory school and three different classes with pupils aged 9 to 12. The data collection method used for this explorative study was unstructured observations made in-class during fourteen hours of teaching. Social identity theory is used as a theoretical framework to gain knowledge and clues as to why girls lose their interest in technology (education) as they get older. The results of the classroom observations revealed that, although the girls were not aware of it, they still confirmed gender stereotypes about girls and technology by e.g. adopting a social identity as not being technical. This study thus largely confirms the prevailing descriptions in previous research on girls and technology education