Hearts are often doodled everywhere on girls' notebooks, backpacks, and lockers. I heart this; I heart that. It could be a boy (and most likely is). It could be a sports team; a favorite color; a destination. But something you'll be unlikely to see on a girl's notebook is the phrase "I heart math" or "I heart science". With the push for STEM careers by the President, a glaring light has been shed on the lack of women in the math, science, technology, and engineering professions.
Where have all the girls gone?
A good place to start looking for the absence is in schools. Girls are much less likely to be interested in math and science classes than boys by high school (effectively removing any chance for majoring in it in college.) True, some women just don't want the professions STEM brings, but there are fewer females in these fields (often the highest paid in the U.S.) than ordinary, relative to the population.
Some point to the lack of STEM female mentors and leaders and that science and math are viewed by girls as not "cool" to learn or are "too hard". Others feel girls aren't exposed to STEM enough, that funding and scholarships in the area are sadly lacking. Not to mention the lack of student programs, other than Girl Scouts, promoting the concept. Or is it as simple as women and men's mental strengths being in different areas? The debate is out.
Watch this video made by the White House made to try to vitalize the movement of women in STEM:
Encouraging girls to learn and apply technology, especially computers, is a step in the right direction. Among other promotion options, online school courses can help build digital literacy and introduce girls to more course options (like chemistry, algebra, and computer literacy) than might be available to them. Exposure together with change in how society views the roles of women could just get girls to imagine, create, and embrace STEM with open hearts!
Why do you think girls aren’t interested in STEM as much as boys are?