Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM)

Seemingly countless opportunities exist today for young girls to excel in school. However, as they progress into middle and high school, gender differences in attitudes towards STEM disciplines begin to emerge. The relatively low number of girls opting to take advanced technology and science courses leaves them less prepared for pursuing these disciplines and restricts certain career choices later on. Enrollment in advanced math courses has been equalized in high schools, resulting in less gender differences in performance on standardized math tests. However, only 17 percent of high school girls take computer science Advanced Placement exams. Educators need to encourage girls to participate more in science and technology-related programs and activities.

NCRW Resources

No resources are attached to this category.

Reports & Publications

THE GIRLS REPORT: What We Know & Need to Know About Growing Up Female
Monday, July 13, 2009 - 11:29am
Balancing the Equation: Where are Women and Girls in Science, Engineering, and Technology?
Monday, July 13, 2009 - 11:26am

Member Organizations

Resources

Blog Posts

FAST FACT: Scary Stats on the STEM Gap
Kyla Bender-Baird
By Allie Fernandez*
Looking to Women in America for Solutions
Kate Meyer
*By Kate MeyerLast week Valerie Jarrett, Senior Advisor to President Obama and Chair of the White House Council on Women and Girls, and Preeta Bansal...
A “soft” approach to innovating science education
Kyla Bender-Baird
December 8, 2009 posted by Theresa JohnstonOriginally posted December 7, 2009 on Gender News from the Clayman Institute for Gender Research
STEM Education Must Include Women, Says President Obama
Kyla Bender-Baird
November 30, 2009 posted by Kyla Bender-BairdThis morning, I ran across a White House press release on a new STEM initiative the Obama administration...
Science for Everyone
ncrw
Oct 15, 2008 SCIENCE FOR EVERYONE By Veronica Arreola, Director of the Women in Science and Engineering program at the University of Illinois-...

Member Experts

News

  • Women's choices, not abilities, keep them out of math-intensive fields
    October 26, 2010

    Association for Psychological Science: A new study by psychological scientists answers the question of why women are underrepresented in STEM fields. Conclusions show that main factors include personal choice, and child-bearing years.
  • Large study shows females are equal to males in math skills
    October 11, 2010

    EurekAlert: A new study shows that the math skills of boys and girls and women and men are equal. Stereotypes do affect performance, as differences only appear when parents, teachers, and other figures steer girls and women away from math.
  • Computer Engineer Barbie and the Role of Women in Tech
    April 9, 2010

    Twenty years ago, women were awarded twice as many computer science degrees as they were in 2008. Of course, there are more fields open to women today. But that only explains part of the reason this well-paid, fast-growing field is losing women.

    ...
  • Bias is a Persistent Hurdle for Women in Sciences
    March 21, 2010

    A report on the underrepresentation of women in science and math by the American Association of University Women, to be released Monday, found that although women have made gains, stereotypes and cultural biases still impede their success.
  • Women Hedge Fund Managers Outperform Men
    December 9, 2009

    It’s generally known that men are hard-wired to be bigger risk takers than women (due to all that extra testosterone they have sloshing around). Interestingly, though, in a profession that is all about risk — hedge fund manager —...