Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) form the foundations for which much of the modern world is built upon. From the cars we drive, to the smart phones and laptops we use, to the software that runs on them, all were researched, developed and built through STEM.
It should come as no surprise, then, that STEM jobs are some of the highest paid and most demanded out there. Compared to the national average in the US, computing and engineering jobs earn almost double as much! Additionally, the unemployment rate in STEM occupations is only 2.5%, significantly below the non-STEM occupation rate of around 5.5%.
So, if most best paid jobs are in STEM, are women equally represented? The short answer is no, which is also part of the reason why such a big pay gap still exists between men and women. Aside from pay gaps occurring when women and men fill the same roles, gaps are also caused by women not entering high paying STEM roles as often as men.
In the US, women fill 47% of all jobs - or nearly half. However, they only make up 24% of the core STEM workforce. To make matters worse, the women that do work in STEM enjoy 35% wage premium, 5% higher than the equivalent premium for men! This isn't just a phenomenon unique to the US either, as in the UK women still only make up 23% of the STEM workforce, though this has increased 3% since 2016.
But Men are Better at STEM Subjects than Women?
When trying to explain the causes of this phenomenon, the usual go to is the assumption that girls are better at subjects like math and science than boys. However, research shows this is actually far from true. The study assessed science performance in 65 countries around the world among 15 year olds and found that girls outperform boys more often than not.
Additionally, other meta-analysis studies that have looked at Math have found little variance in the differences between scores of girls and boys. So if it's not caused by ability, why are women not entering STEM fields in droves to take advantage of high salaries and low unemployment?
The answer is a complex one that many organisations and researchers have been analyzing for some years. Unfortunately, even in today's day and age, one of the biggest causes is still stereotyping and belief. Girls are put off from pursuing STEM subjects from a young age because of the belief these are 'boys' subjects and art-based subjects like English are for girls. Studies have shown these stereotypes and beliefs can set in as early as 6 years old!
Another explanation that is linked to the above is the combination of self-efficacy and social belongingness. Women often don't enter STEM fields because they do not believe they can succeed, which is likely caused by stereotyping from a young age. Additionally, teenagers tend to stick to subjects they associate with their gender because they are more comfortable and feel a sense of belonging.
So How Can We Attract More Girls into STEM Subjects?
So if research confirms the reason women and girls don't enter STEM is because of ability, then the answer must lie in breaking stereotypes. Since they can set in so early and have such a strong influence, the most effective way to break down these barriers is to change perceptions when kids are still young. And research confirms 3 main ways to do this:
1) Female Role Models - Research from Microsoft has found that female role models in STEM is one of the most important factors influencing girls perceptions of the subjects. For example, think of the most famous physicists and technologists you can.
Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Stephen Hawking, Brian Cox... the list goes on. These all make great role models for boys, but the women doing great things in the same areas need to be highlighted and promoted in order to provide figures for girls to aspire to.
2) STEM Toys for Girls - The toys that kids are playing with can have a massive impact on their social development. For example, when provided with 'girls only' toys to play with such as dolls, girls are more likely to develop stronger beliefs around stereotypes. Conversely, toys like Lego, Meccano and K'Nex that are great for developing STEM skills are often labelled as 'boys' toys, which further entrenches stereotypes.
Part of the solution to getting more girls interested in STEM from a young age lies in producing STEM toys that are either marketed to both genders or entirely tailored for girls. Many companies have begun producing such toys and kits - some of which were founded by women working in STEM who actively wanted to inspire more girls!
One such company is Roominate, an engineering kit where they have to follow a girl adventurer and solve problems through building. Find more engineering, coding and science toys for girls to learn STEM here.
3) Encouragement by Parents and Teachers - Microsoft's research also found that girls are twice as likely to pursue STEM subjects when encouraged to do so by parents and teachers. This is such a simple way to get more girls into STEM and requires no monetary investment.
Summary
What this article highlights is the complexities surrounding the subject of women not entering STEM fields. That said, the solutions are far from and, although things are changing, we are still a long way off women being properly represented in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.
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