Careers advisers show the way

The project focuses on young people's gender-biased career choices and more specifically on how the careers guidance service in schools can help challenge gender norms and stereotypes as they make these choices, thus helping to balance out gender imbalances in the educational system in the long term.

The aim of the project has been to:

• examine the degree to which gender plays a part in the careers guidance provided in schools
• raise awareness amongst professionals of existing gender norms and stereotypes in the careers guidance service
• raise awareness of the issue within the careers service
• put the spotlight on the public sector's equality obligations under the Consolidation Act on Gender Equality

The project includes a qualitative study with interviews with careers advisers, observations of guidance sessions and focus groups with young people from selected careers guidance centres in Denmark. The results of the qualitative study have been compiled into a main report which concludes in a number of recommendations for relevant government ministries, local authorities and careers guidance centres. An animated film has also been created for use in careers guidance for young people to help them reflect on their own attitudes towards gender and educational choices.

Donors

The Ministry of Gender Equality and Ecclesiastical Affairs' fund for the promotion of equality