Advocacy for women in STEM has risen steadily over the years with more girls interested in the field than ever. Yet, their confidence remains low. Here’s why.
Some 55% of girls in grades five through 12 are interested in a STEM career, 10 percentage points higher than in 2017, according to a new survey from Ruling Our eXperiences, a national nonprofit authority on research, programming and education centered on girls.
Among the youngest girls surveyed, fifth- and sixth-graders’ interest has risen by 20% over the same time. However, girls’ confidence in their STEM abilities has dropped significantly. Only 59% of girls believe they are good at math and science, down from 73% in 2017.
Furthermore, 58% of high school girls do not think they are smart enough for their dream job, up from 46% in 2017. This statistic has more than doubled among fifth- and sixth-graders with 52% not believing they’re smart enough, up from 23% in 2017.
Perception gaps also exist, according to the research. Eighty-six percent of girls want a career that helps others and may not view STEM in this way. These perceptions are also fueled by stereotypes, as 89% of girls report feeling pressured to conform to traditional gender roles.
“It is our responsibilityas educators, STEM professionals and members of the communityto bridge these gaps and pave the way for our girls to thrive in STEM fields,” said ROX founder and CEO Lisa Hinkelman.
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The research also outlines ways in which the school experience influences girls’ perception of STEM:
- Post-secondary support increases STEM interest: When girls have someone at their school helping them plan for their postsecondary aspirations, they’re 19% more likely to consider a career in STEM.
- Girls who enjoy school are more likely to consider STEM: Girls who feel connected to their schools are likely to experience positive feelings toward school, thus increasing their likelihood of entering STEM.
- Most girls do not feel like people at their school care about them: Fifty-seven percent of girls don’t think people at their school care, and only 39% feel like they can be themselves at school.
- One in four girls believe that boys outnumber them in AP math and science: While statistics may vary, many girls believe that more boys enroll in these courses than girls.
