Encouraging Girls in STEM
According to UNESCO, fewer than 30% of researchers around the world are women. In higher education, around 30% of female students pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields. While low, these percentages actually show that women have steadily increased participation in STEM since 2000. As of 2019, the majority of veterinarians and pharmacists are women. But, steep gender pay and participation gaps persist in other STEM careers. February 11, 2021 will be the International Day of Women and Girls in Science and the perfect time to encourage girls who want to pursue STEM-related fields.
STEM is just the stalk.
When the lack of girls and women in STEM is discussed, you often see a photo of women hovering over microscopes in traditional labs. In reality, STEM is the core of a wide range of interdisciplinary fields and careers, including athletic training, crime scene investigation, aerospace, wildlife management, and clinical psychology.
Pay like a girl. Equity matters.
According to the American Association of University Women (AAUW) gender gaps are extremely high in STEM careers like computer science and engineering, which are predicted to be the "fastest-growing and highest-paid jobs of the future." Additionally, Pew Research Center found that the "typical STEM worker" earns an average of two-thirds more per year than people employed in other fields. Barriers like hostile work cultures, gender stereotypes, and a lack of mentors and role models contribute to the lower numbers of women in STEM and the gender wage gap within STEM fields.
The "confidence gap" starts early.
By third grade, girls are more likely to say they are not confident in math classes. On the other hand, around the same age, boys are more likely, regardless of aptitude, to say they have strong math skills. AAUW refers to this as the "Confidence Gap" and notes that it has far-reaching impacts. For example, women comprise almost 80% of the healthcare workforce, but only around 21% of health executives and board members are women.
Begin STEM conversations early. Nancy Roman, NASA's first chief astronomer and "Mother of the Hubble Telescope," was discouraged from pursuing math in school. Her mother piqued her interest in space, but when Nancy expressed wanting to take more math classes, her high school guidance counselor said, "What lady would take mathematics instead of Latin?" Nevertheless, because of her foundation at home, she persisted!
Strategic engagement is key. Powered by PBS, the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Cargill Foundation, SciGirls is an Emmy-award winning show and outreach program. SciGirls details six research-backed strategies on how to engage girls interested in STEM. STEM fields are filled with trial, error, and failure. Their strategies empower girls to "embrace struggle, overcome challenges, and increase self-confidence." SciGirls recommends that girls interact with diverse STEM role models whenever possible. Download SciGirls' complete engagement guide here.