Page 18 - IAV Digital Magazine #423

iAV - Antelope Valley Digital Magazine
The Exact Age When Girls Lose Interest In Science And Math
By Alanna Petroff
Teenage girls can be a fickle bunch, especially when it comes to their inter- est in science, tech- nology, engineering and math.
A new survey com- missioned by Microsoft (MSFT, Tech30) found that young girls in Europe become interested in so- called STEM sub- jects around the age of 11 and then quickly lose interest when they're 15.
"Conformity to social expectations, gen- der stereotypes, gender roles and lack of role models continue to channel girls' career choices away from STEM fields," said psychol- ogy professor Martin Bauer of the London School of Economics, who helped coordinate the survey of 11,500 girls across 12 European countries.
The survey also found that girls' interest in humani- ties subjects drops around the same age but then rebound sharply. Interest in STEM subjects does not recover.
"This means that governments, teach- ers and parents only have four or five
years to nurture girls' passion before they turn their backs on these areas, potentially for good," Microsoft said.
Microsoft admitted it doesn't have a com- prehensive explana- tion for why 15-year- old girls lose interest in science and math. But it has uncovered some strategies to keep them engaged:
Promote female role models in STEM subjects: It's much easier for girls to imagine a career in STEM subjects if they see successful examples.
Microsoft also found that girls are more likely to pursue a career in this area if they think men and women will be treat-
ed equally in the workforce.
"Perceived inequali- ty [in the workplace] is actually putting them off further STEM studies and careers," Microsoft said.
Six in 10 girls admit- ted they'd feel more confident pursuing a STEM career if they knew men and women were already equally employed in these fields.
Offer hands-on STEM exercises: These experiences, both inside and out- side the classroom, can bring the sub- ject to life. About four in 10 girls say they don't get enough practical experiences.
Microsoft said it's also important to show girls how the material can be applied in real-life situations, giving the topics more rele- vance in their lives.
More mentors: Having teachers who mentor and encourage girls in these subjects can have even more of an impact than par- ent encouragement.
It also helps if this teacher is female.
Top tech titans have been the target of criticism for years for their male-domi- nated working envi- ronments. High pro- file accusations of sexism and harass- ment are not uncommon.
Microsoft's own 2016 global work- place report shows that just 26% of its employees are female and less than 18% of its engi- neers are women.
The company acknowledged in a report accompany- ing the survey that its success depends on the diverse skills and experiences of its employees.
"A diverse and inclu- sive workforce will yield better products and solutions for our customers, and bet- ter experiences for our employees," it said. "When we encourage girls to pursue science and technology, we dou- ble our potential to solve problems."
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