Today the
Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI) released a new study affirming girls’
interest in STEM. Generation STEM: What Girls Say about Science, Technology,
Engineering, and Math, says that while a majority of today’s girls have a
clear interest in STEM, they don’t prioritize STEM fields when thinking about
their future careers.
This latest
offering from GSRI shows 74 percent of teen girls are interested in STEM
subjects. Further, 82 percent of girls see themselves as “smart enough to have
a career in STEM.” And yet, few girls consider it their number-one career
option: 81 percent of girls interested in STEM are interested in pursuing STEM
careers, but only 13 percent say it’s their first choice. Additionally, girls
express that they don’t know a lot about STEM careers and the opportunities
afforded by these fields, with 60 percent of STEM-interested girls
acknowledging that they know more about other careers than they do about STEM
careers.
Girls are
also aware that gender barriers persist in today’s society: 57 percent of those
studied concur that if they were to pursue a STEM career, they would “have to
work harder than a man to be taken seriously.”
“The
Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama (GSNCA) have a proud history of supporting
girls’ interest in science, technology, engineering and math through our robust
programs,” said Trish Coghlan, GSNCA CEO. “This study by the Girl Scout
Research Institute affirms how important it is for all of us to support girls
at a young age and make learning about STEM fun and engaging.”
Generation
STEM notes the
creative and hands-on aspects of STEM hold the most appeal. STEM-interested
girls take an active, inquisitive approach to engaging in science, technology,
engineering and math: a high percentage like to solve problems (85%), build
things and put things together (67%), do hands-on science projects (83%), and
ask questions about how things work and find ways to answer these questions
(80%). Girls enjoy the hands-on aspect of exploration and discovery and
recognize the benefits of a challenge: 89 percent of all girls agree that
“obstacles make me stronger.”
Girl Scouts’ relationship with AT&T constitutes
one such partnership. GSNCA and AT&T have joined together to advance
underserved high-school girls in science and engineering. As minority students
and women gravitate away from science and engineering toward other professions,
and employment in STEM fields is increasing at a faster pace than in non-STEM
fields, educational experts say the U.S. must increase proficiency and interest
in these areas to compete in the global economy. GSNCA and AT&T are
tackling this issue with an IMAGINE grant, designed to spark STEM interest in
Birmingham city and Huntsville city high schools.
About
Girl Scouts of North-Central Alabama
2012 is
the Year of the Girl! To get involved, visit our 100th anniversary
link at www.girlscoutsnca.org/100. Girl
Scouts of North-Central Alabama is a United Way community partner and serves
15,300 girls ages 5-17 and 5,000 volunteers across 36 counties. For more
information on becoming a member, volunteering or pathway opportunities, call
800-734-4541 or visit www.girlscoutsnca.org.
