Male students' perceptions about gender imbalances in a speech-language pathology and audiology training programme of a South African institution of higher education.
Sandra Du Plessis
PMID 29781703WHAT IT FOUND
Male speech therapy students in South Africa felt included in training but worried about working with children.
Many chose the profession as a backup plan without prior experience, suggesting a need for better career guidance and clear safety protocols.
Key findings
01Most male students felt comfortable in their training and did not perceive the activities as female-oriented, though a significant minority found examples and barriers more applicable to women.
02A majority of students reported receiving no guidelines on working alone with children, and over half preferred working with adults, citing heightened awareness of child abuse issues.
03Many students enrolled in the program as a second choice after failing to get into their preferred fields, and most had no prior contact with the profession before starting.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study involved only 31 students from a single institution, so the findings cannot be generalized to all male students in South Africa or other contexts. The sample was all African race and mostly from rural areas, which may influence perceptions of gender and culture in ways not applicable to other demographics. The questionnaire was designed specifically for this study and, while piloted, lacks established validity metrics for this specific population. Data collection occurred at one time point, so it captures perceptions at a specific stage of training rather than longitudinal changes in attitude.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was approved by the Sefako Makgatho University Research Ethics Committee.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that male students' positive feelings about their training mean they are fully prepared for the social and professional challenges of the workplace. The study shows that many entered the field as a second choice without prior exposure, and specific gaps in guidance for pediatric work remain unresolved.