Katherine Jackson. Ursula Burns. Grace Hopper. Mae Jemison. These are the names of women who have shaped history through their careers in STEM. Although these women may not be a household name in comparison to their male counterparts, such as Albert Einstein or Elon Musk, their contributions to STEM have been invaluable.
STEM, an acronym used to describe the connection of the four disciplines, Science, Technology Engineering and Math, is increasing in popularity in educational curriculum. As new technology is introduced on an almost daily basis, knowledge of STEM is vital to ensure your child can compete academically as well as professionally when they enter the workforce.
However, even though the push for STEM literacy is increasing, there is a gender gap. Young girls are not being encouraged to pursue STEM studies or careers at the same rate as boys. STEM careers are among the fastest growing and the highest paying. Neglecting to include young girls in this focus towards STEM robs them of equal opportunity for personal and financial success.
Numerous factors contribute to why there is a gender gap in STEM subjects. To name a few, girls are not typically encouraged to pursue the study of STEM subjects, instead being directed or “tracked” towards liberal arts subjects. There is implicit gender bias against a young girls’ ability to perform well in math particularly. The assumption that girls won’t perform well cause parents and teachers to dissuade young girls from attempting to strengthen their math skills.
Thankfully, there are ways to counter the gender gap with your daughter. We will discuss a few actionable steps you can take to help your child feel confident in her math skills and encourage her to pursue a STEM career.
As early as you can, tell your daughter that she is good at math to counter the subtle messaging that says girls don’t succeed in math. Build her confidence in her math skills by putting her in advanced math classes if they are available. In elementary and middle school, girls do just as well as boys in math. Help her feel a sense of belonging. Seek out opportunities for her to stretch her math muscles by tapping into her interests and making math fun and relatable.
If your child is older and has the option to select certain classes, require that your child adds math and science classes to her schedule, especially advanced classes. Help her to become comfortable with being challenged and understand that knowledge is not fixed. She may not understand a certain concept today, but she can work to understand the same concept tomorrow with the help of additional resources. Ensure that her teachers and college counselors are encouraging her to pursue STEM classes and are not discouraging her from it.
If you have a female friend or family member that is studying or working within a STEM field, schedule a time with your daughter to be able to talk with her and ask questions. If your child is older this would be a great opportunity for your child to have her as a mentor, as a real-world example that women can be successful in STEM. If you don’t know a female in STEM, you can still help her see herself by introducing her to past and present female figures in STEM. The movie Hidden Figures is a great example of real-life women in STEM.
Outside of school, encourage her STEM-related interests, such as an interest in entering a robotics competition or joining an astronomy group. Encourage her to participate in the science fair or in a coding camp. Be mindful of unconscious gender bias that may prevent you from exposing her to “boy” activities. Involve her in activities that allow her to build things or allow her to play video games with her siblings. Be aware of your unconscious bias as a parent that may inadvertently steer her away from the STEM field.
Occasionally you will see the STEM acronym written as STEAM to incorporate the Arts. Including art-influenced and hands-on STEM activities may help make the subjects more appealing to young girls. An example of art STEAM activities is creating crystal geodes, coffee filter flowers, or making invisible ink.
When we lose women in STEM, we lose the ideas, innovation and insight that the women contribute to their chosen field Their diverse experiences benefit their teams, their companies and our world. Here at Mathnasium, we offer fun, engaging and individualized math instruction to help your daughter or your son excel and create a future where they can become the next leaders in STEM. Give us a call today!
(303) 979-9077
(303) 979-9077
