How to Encourage More Girls to Choose a Career in STEM

In the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM, the man to woman ratio doesn’t really leave the female gender much to hope for. This doesn’t make much sense, considering that there aren’t any significant differences in IQ scores between the sexes. That is, until you take a look at the stereotypes women of all ages face when it comes to both education and careers in STEM. And the biggest problem is that it all starts during their childhood, while their minds are still being shaped.

One such stereotype has people convinced that girls’ intellectual abilities are far below those of boys, and another one depicts people with careers in STEM as socially awkward, which is something that can discourage girls from wanting to have anything to do with STEM, even though many of them are interested in maths and science. In order to solve this problem and encourage girls to get the necessary education and pursue careers in STEM, it’s necessary for their parents and educators to start early and nurture girls’ interest in STEM-related subjects. Here are some ideas on how it can be done.

Introduce young girls to STEM

The STEM fields are growing ones and it would be a great loss for the entire society to only inspire boys to excel in maths and science. It’s essential that we let girls know that they’re just as entitled to give these subjects a real shot as boys. Even if girls create a negative perception with regards to them at the youngest of age, the situation can be improved and corrected by exposing them to science and maths all through elementary school, so that they can focus their attention to the right subject groups during high school. It’s up to teachers to make all their classes and different projects equally inviting to both genders, so that girls become more inclined to keep cultivating their love for technology and science and use their STEM-related talents to increase their knowledge and one day work in those fields. So, if you’re a parent of a girl, look for schools with such teachers, but also talk to your daughter about science and let her know that she can be good at any subject if she works hard enough.

Don’t let mistakes demoralize them

It’s normal for children to feel dispirited and even intimidated by their mistakes. However, it seems like this phenomenon is more common when it comes to girls. In order to prove they’re intelligent and capable enough, they often feel that they have to be extraordinary, or even perfect, which is probably why they’re more likely to quit something they’re good at after a single failure. This also applies to the subjects they study at school. So, in order to keep girls in maths, science and technology classes for the total length of their education, it’s important not to let them get disheartened by the mistakes they make while at the beginning of their schooling. So, if they struggle with some areas of maths, it’s essential that both parents and teachers convince them that this is a mere learning opportunity. With some quality maths tutoring, they can overcome any problems and get the confidence they lack to advance in the subject.

Inform them of their career options

It’s not uncommon for children not to be aware of the range of career options available to them once they receive their education. And even if they are familiar with some of the options, it’s possible that they don’t really know which classes they should take and subjects they should study to get there. That’s why it’s important for their elementary school to organize career days for the children and provide them with all the necessary information on how to become a professional in STEM fields. And if your daughter’s school is organizing such an event, make sure that they avoid gender-based stereotypes and find women who have successful careers in STEM, so that they can empower young girls in their efforts to acquire the necessary skills and knowledges to become whatever they want one day. Also, you should do some research online and provide your child with any information the school leaves out. Finally, let her know that many scientists and engineers now work in teams and have fulfilled lives outside work, so that she doesn’t decide against such careers out of fear of becoming a ‘geeky loner’.

Talk about famous women in STEM

Although the world of STEM has always been ruled by men, there are some wonderful examples of women in these fields as well. Again, as a parent, you should do some research and find out all you can about them, so that you can tell your little girl stories about these remarkable women even before she starts her formal education. It’s crucial that you introduce female STEM role models to her that early, so that she grows up aware of their importance and impact they’ve had on the world as we know it. For example, did you know that the first computer programmer was a woman called Augusta Ada King-Noel? Well, you should, and so should your little girl. Also, make sure that you tell your daughter exactly how these women became scientists and how they lived, so that she can relate to them more easily and follow in their footsteps with more verve.

Educating girls and providing them with the encouragement they need to stay true to their dreams is something every parent and teacher should put some effort into. So, teach girls that they can achieve anything they set their mind on, and, if need be, always be there to remind them of it.