5 Ways To Bring Girls Into STEM

The world is learned about and our well-being advanced through science and engineering. STEM is a curriculum based on the idea of educating students in four specific disciplines — science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

Compared to many leading and steadily emerging countries, most countries lack a strong focus on educating scientists and engineers. One significant reason they have fallen behind is that they do not encourage their female students to pursue career paths in STEM.

This needs to change because the lack of women in STEM will continue to plague us until all learners, regardless of gender, have adequate opportunities to explore math and science throughout nursery, primary, and secondary school. If we want to attract the best and brightest minds into the fields that will move us forward, we must look to all of the population. More women can contribute to the field of STEM, and we can help make that happen. 

Below are a few strategies for how we can help.

Expose Young Girls to STEM

We stand to gain a lot by exposing young girls to STEM fields and encouraging those interested in following their hearts and minds. Simply focusing on one age group cannot cure all societal issues that influence career choices among females. However, correcting girls’ negative perceptions at a young age can lead them to embrace math and science when they reach high school rather than avoid the subjects. 

If we want to prevent the likelihood of girls choosing a different direction, then administrators and educators must strive to create environments in high school and university math and science programs that are inviting to females. As long as young boys and girls are exposed to science and technology and are equally encouraged to study those disciplines, those with talent and a genuine interest in those fields will be able to develop that interest. Science and technology are and will continue to be essential factors in what we can accomplish in our lifetimes.

Encourage Participation in Special Programs

More workshops are sprouting up nowadays, encouraging young girls to maintain their interest in STEM fields. In-school and out-of-school programs are slowly gaining popularity. For that to continue, those in STEM fields must support local and national efforts to foster girls. Without understanding the opportunities available to math and science students, young women may think they have made a mistake when facing the challenges of completing a STEM course. The good news is that current programs focused on increasing young girls’ interest in those fields are tremendous. Nevertheless, without them, there are potential long-term consequences, even for girls who select a STEM path in college.

Support Learning Opportunities in the Community

There has been an improved focus on motivating young girls to explore typically male-dominated fields. This shows a significant shift in thinking. Today, organizations have really stepped up their programs to help ensure that girls succeed in all areas.

Companies and organizations that offer opportunities allow girls and women to learn more about different possibilities in the STEM fields. 

Although not so common here in Uganda, job-shadowing can be an idea that those in professional fields can take up. Job shadowing allows those interested in a specific field to follow an individual already working in that field for a day or a given amount of time. This lets the observer see typical job duties and activities and get a feel for what that job may entail.

Serve as a Mentor

The value of mentorship is irreplaceable. Finding a mentor early on can do wonders for building confidence and translating it into career satisfaction. The people chosen as mentors need to have the capacity and capability to lead young people toward success. A mentor is not only someone willing to spend time teaching techniques and processes but also someone who takes an interest in long-term advancement. 

Mentoring is one of the most crucial confidence builders that can be found daily on the job or in school. Teaming with a mentor is a career strategy that can bring huge benefits, especially to women in unstable work environments like engineering. Time and time again, most successful women credit their participation in some sort of mentorship for dramatically helping them reach their career goals.

Take Charge and Educate

The growth of the digital age has made it possible for most of us to access vast resources – also available online for any women interested in the STEM fields. Women can visit the websites of multiple professional organizations such as the Society of Women Engineers, Women in Technology International, Association for Women in Mathematics, and Association of Women in Science, to name a few. These resources present a tremendous opportunity to learn a great deal about the field, what it is like to be a woman in a specific STEM profession, career opportunities, and so forth. While it might not be as enlightening as face-to-face communication with a professional in the field, it will certainly give women an informed starting point from which they can grow.

As women become more prevalent in STEM careers, more and more young girls will begin to recognize the additional career opportunities open to them. With more women in the field, it will become more evident to young girls what they can offer the world.