Boys are Affected by Their Parents More Than Girls are: Parents’ Utility Value Socialization in Science

Abstract

Gender differences in parental value socialization of their children’s motivation, achievement, and career aspirations in science were investigated. Direct and indirect modes of parental value socialization were examined by asking parents about their perception of the utility value of science for their children and for themselves. A total of 260 dyads of Korean parents (86.5% mothers) and their 5 or 6th grade children (45.8% girls) participated in the study. Boys aspired STEM-related careers more strongly than did girls despite comparable levels of motivation and achievement in science. Parents’ value beliefs did not predict their daughters’ science motivation and achievement but were highly predictive of those of their sons. Parents’ perception of the utility value of science for their sons, which may have been directly communicated to and imposed on children, predicted their sons’ STEM career aspirations and science achievement. In contrast, parents’ perception of the utility value of science for themselves, which may have been indirectly endorsed and embedded in parental behavior, predicted only their sons’ science achievement. In male-favored domains like STEM, parents alone may be able to socialize their sons on task values, whereas a more diverse range of socializers may be needed to shape and develop girls’ values.