THE FEMALE PREDOMINANCE OF A VOCATIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC EDUCATION PROGRAMME FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN RIO DE JANEIRO AND RECIFE, BRAZIL1

Headnote

Abstract

The aim of this research is to understand how students view their volunteer choices to take part in a specific scientific education programme while they attend high school. This programme is called (Provoc) located at Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), Brazil. Historically, this programme has been characterised by a significant predominance of young females in both Rio de Janeiro (southeast Brazil) and Recife (northeast Brazil). This research is qualitative, having interviewed individually 27 students in Rio de Janeiro and Recife. A focus group interview with 12 students was also conducted in Rio de Janeiro. The results indicate several female attributes that make girls more prone to participate in this programme such as maturity, responsibility, organisation, patience to undergo the selection process, school dedication and concern with their professional future. The female predominance is also associated with the traditional areas of Fiocruz, which are mainly biology and those related to health sciences. The results indicate that volunteer choices towards science during adolescence are already gender biased and that students have some awareness of gender differences at school and in work environments.

PREDOMINIO DE MUJERES EN PROGRAMA DE FORMACIÓN VOCACIONAL Y CIENTÍFICA DIRIGIDO A ESTUDIANTES LICEALES EN RIO DE JANEIRO Y RECIFE, BRASIL

Resumen

El objetivo de esta investigación es comprender de qué forma las y los estudiantes consideran sus elecciones de formación en un programa específico de formación científica mientras cursan el liceo. El nombre de este programa es Provoc, de la Fundación Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Brasil. Históricamente, este programa se ha caracterizado por un significativo predominio de mujeres jóvenes, tanto en Rio de Janeiro (sudeste de Brasil) como en Recife (nordeste de Brasil). Esta es una investigación cualitativa, habiendo entrevistado de forma individual a 27 estudiantes de Rio de Janeiro y Recife. En Rio de Janeiro se realizó asimismo una entrevista a un grupo focal compuesto por 12 estudiantes. Los resultados apuntan a varias características propias de las mujeres que hacen que las mismas tengan más inclinación a participar en este programa, tal como madurez, responsabilidad, organización, paciencia para pasar por el proceso de selección, dedicación escolar e interés por su futuro profesional. El predominio de mujeres se asocia también con las áreas tradicionales de Fiocruz, principalmente Biología y aquellas relacionadas con las Ciencias...