Brianna White

Administrator
Staff member
Jul 30, 2019
4,593
3,442
Women are still few in science and technology fields, and the women working in those fields want young girls to know there is plenty of room for them.
Amy Jenkins, a material science and engineering major at Salt Lake Community College, thinks girls would be less hesitant to pursue STEM studies if teachers and parents normalized the opportunities rather than prefacing them as being difficult or far-reaching.
“There is a misconception that [girls] have to be super nerdy or extra smart,” Jenkins said, comparing studying STEM to driving a car. “Everyone can learn to drive. It’s not a ‘man thing’ or a ‘nerdy girl’ thing to do.”
A recent study by Pew Research shows women continue to be underrepresented in technology fields despite efforts by colleges and businesses to create an inclusive environment. To see more than a small handful of girls in any college science, technology, engineering or math class would be unique at many universities. Educators believe lack of female support may be a contributing factor. Women seem to have their minds made up before they set foot on college campuses, and lack of exposure in early education may be the cause.
A more in-depth look at the study done by Pew shows the STEM gap is closing, with women making up 50% of technical careers in 2019. While this number seems promising, 74% of these women hold a job in health care, while fields such as math, technology and engineering continue to fall short, holding at less than 25% female.
Continue reading: https://www.sltrib.com/amplify-utah/2021/10/24/how-help-girls-stick-with/
 

Attachments

  • p0005410.m05077.gs4laspgzfefzcasbpt7djxbga.jpg
    p0005410.m05077.gs4laspgzfefzcasbpt7djxbga.jpg
    72.2 KB · Views: 6
  • Like
Reactions: Brianna White