Girls and boys have a distinct gap in STEM career interest. A survey by Junior Achievement, a nongovernmental organization that helps youth prepare for their future careers, shows that this gap could be growing.
It is fascinating to note that according to a British government study, girls score better in STEM subjects exams than boys. This suggests that girls may lack self-confidence.
Junior Achievement’s survey found that only 9 percent of teenage girls were interested in STEM careers. Many cite a lack mentorship and support. The survey included 1,004 students between 13 and 17 years old in the United States.
According to a 2018 survey, 11 percent of girls reported an interest in STEM careers. This is compared with 11 percent in 2018. Boys’ interest in STEM careers rose from 24% in 2018 to 27% in 2019.
“The decline of interest in STEM careers is disappointing given how much emphasis is being placed on promoting STEM to girls,”Jack Kosakowski is the president and CEO at Junior Achievement USA.
“One element that may need to be emphasized more is ensuring that STEM professionals are serving as role models and working with girls in educational settings as part of these initiatives,”He points out.
Junior Achievement sends STEM professionals to schools to offer career readiness programs. This is to support and encourage both boys and girls to continue their interest in STEM careers. These volunteers share their stories and describe the steps they took in order to reach their current STEM positions. Students see examples that show the benefits of learning math, science and coding.
The organization also offers a JA Career Shadow program for high-school students. This program includes three 45-minute sessions in the classroom and a visit to a professional workplace for four to five hours.
This experience, from a STEM perspective could have a significant effect on girls.
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology conducted a survey to find that teens don’t feel like they have role models or mentors in STEM careers. The job shadow program gives girls the opportunity to observe female STEM professionals in action and may help them stay motivated to pursue similar careers.
One in five Junior Achievement alumni who completed a survey in 2016/2017 reported that they worked in the same industry as the Junior Achievement professional mentors.
For more information on Junior Achievement or the job shadow program, visit ja.org
