Gender balance amongst educational psychologists: an attempt to explain the male minority

Abstract

The Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) has begun an investigation into why most jobs currently have a gender imbalance within their workforce. The latest in a series of updates has been published by the Association of Educational Psychologists (AEP) on gender distribution amongst educational psychologists. This may therefore be an opportune time to look at issues of gender balance within the population of educational psychologists (EPs). Currently males are in a minority throughout the study and practice of psychology. The small and diminishing proportion of male EPs appears to be seldom discussed within the profession. This paper attempts to evaluate a range of possible explanations for the lack of male EPs. The process of gender stereotyping was offered as one theoretical framework which might help guide further investigations into this much overlooked area.