Why getting girls interested in STEM is important


Okay, so it’s safe to say that school was a mixed bag for us. There were some subjects that we absolutely loved and couldn’t wait until we could raise our hands like Hermione Granger in literally every class at Hogwarts, but there were also other subjects that we despised. We would do anything we could to get out of the class, and we would only ever put our hands up to get the bathroom pass once again. Yet, it’s important to note that there is no difference between subjects that boys like and subjects that girls like. It’s a free-for-all! However, stereotypes and social beliefs have often created a difference between the two, and fewer girls are getting into STEM subjects – which is a darn shame.

So, what is STEM?

You might be looking at that word, creasing up your brows, and wondering what the heck were talking about. Is that right? Well, STEM is actually the acronym that stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. In today’s society, STEM education is becoming increasingly important. After all, we need the children of the future to become the next generation of engineers, inventors, designers and more. Utilizing STEM education in school will ensure that the children of the future are properly educated in these fields – but it seems there has been a divide in schools across the world.

The problem with stereotypes

Unfortunately, we live in a world full of stereotypes, and it’s unlikely that we’ll ever get rid of them. Many of these stereotypes exist between genders because society has always had different views on the subjects that young girls should learn, and subjects that young boys should learn. Boys are supposed to get their hands dirty and learn subjects such as science, maths, and engineering, while girls are expected to study English, textiles, food technology and art. But why does those stereotypes exist? Men and women are perfectly capable of doing the same jobs, so why are we teaching them from a young age that they can’t?

The impact on the world

While teaching students these kinds of subjects when they are youngsters may not seem important, it actually has a huge impact on the world. Although the statistics are different in different countries across the world, the amount of women who are working in the high-tech workforce is shocking. In fact, only around 15-25% of the STEM workforce in the world right now is made up of women – and that gap is just getting bigger each year. This is because young girl’s are not exposed to these kinds of opportunities when they are younger, and if they are, they are bullied or pushed out because they are not ‘supposed’ to be in those classes.

Making a difference

Teaching young girls’ the in’s and out’s of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math is one of the biggest changes we could make on our planet, and will allow girl’s everywhere the chance to prove themselves – because, at the moment, they are not given the same opportunities. Careers within STEM fields are normally incredibly well paid compared to other jobs out there, which means that denying the women the chance to work in these fields will just increase the unequal gender pay gap. As if that wasn’t enough, allowing more women to explore their STEM knowledge is one of the best ways to create even more iconic female role models. This way, these role models can inspire the next generation of STEM leaders into the world…

Many children around the world are incredibly lucky to be able to go to school and learn all kinds of subjects, but it seems as though many young girls are being penalized for their gender – and that is not okay. By introducing STEM education into their lives, it will not only have a huge impact on their future, but also the future of the world!

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