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Societal stereotypes depict girls as less interested than boys in
computer science and engineering. We demonstrate the existence
of these stereotypes among children and adolescents from first to

12th grade and their potential negative consequences for girls’ sub-
sequent participation in these fields. Studies 1 and 2 (n = 2,277; one

preregistered) reveal that children as young as age six (first grade)

and adolescents across multiple racial/ethnic and gender intersec-
tions (Black, Latinx, Asian, and White girls and boys) endorse ster-
eotypes that girls are less interested than boys in computer science

and engineering.