Stereotype endorsements, gender and some home economics-related behaviour among secondary school students in Gaberone, Botswana

Abstract

The most lucrative resources for sustainable technological, economic, social and personal development are human resources. Nations are advanced to the extent that they have been able to develop in every area of human potential the resources of every citizen. But in some societies such development is limited by stereotypic biases against certain groups in the society and against some areas of human potential. For example, by stereotyping home economics as female-only subject, males accept the limitations placed on them by the gendering process which inhibits the identification, development and utilization of home economics skills necessary for their personal, social, economic and technological development. To determine the extent and consequences of such endorsement on willingness to study and attitude towards home economics among secondary school students in Gaborone, a survey analytical study involving 402 randomly selected subjects was carried out. The results of appropriate data analyses to test relevant research hypotheses showed a high level endorsement of home economics as a female-only subject among the students and confirmed the speculation that the level of such endorsement has significance influence on students' willingness to study and attitude towards the subject irrespective of gender. These results were discussed and some recommendations made.

Gender and Behaviour. Vol. 4 (2) 2006: pp. 927-952