Empowering Girls in STEM

“Young girls need to see role models in whatever careers they may choose, just so they can picture themselves doing those jobs someday. You can’t be what you can’t see.” – Sally Ride, First American Female to go to Space

Women make up half of the total U.S. college-educated workforce, but only 28% of the science and engineering workforce. There are several reasons that contribute to this discrepancy including a lack of pre-college experience, stereotypes (social bias and sexism) that dissuade female participation in STEM-related activities, lack of role models, according to a University Washington study. The overall most powerful impact, the researchers conclude, is a “masculine culture” that makes many women feel like they don’t belong.

At the Y, we want to promote and encourage the presence of females in this ever-growing field. A few ways you can bring STEM to your own home:

• Check out some great books that feature women in STEM, written by women. Here is a list of our favorites:
  • Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty
  • Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty
  • Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and the Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly and Laura Freeman 
  • The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
  • Swimming with Sharks: The Daring Discoveries of Eugenie Clark by Heather Lang
  • The Fourteenth Goldfish by Jennifer L. Holm  
  • Finding Wonders: Three Girls Who Changed Science by Jeannine Atkins
  • Women in Science: 50 Fearless Pioneers Who Changed the World by Rachel Ignotofsky  
  • Radioactive! How Irène Curie and Lise Meitner Revolutionized Science and Changed the World by Winifred Conkling
  • Wonder Women: 25 Innovators, Inventors, and Trailblazers Who Changed History by Sam Maggs
• Do some cool STEM experiments at home! Here are a few we enjoy:
  • Visit our Y Family Room which features dozens of super cool STEM experiments and activities.
  • Make a slime for every season or area of interest.
  • Round up some common household items and try some cool at-home Science Experiments with Steve Spangler

More information and resources: 

• Keeping Girls in STEM: 3 Barriers, 3 Solution
• 5 Ways to Get Girls into STEM
• Why are there so few women in STEM?
• Why do some STEM fields have fewer women than others?
• 8 Ways to Get More Girls Involved in STEM That Really Work