Youth Today REPORTS - The Girls’ Index: Girls and STEM impact report
ByNickolas Bagley, October 10, 2024 / link to article.
SOURCE
SUMMARY
“The Girls’ Index:™ Girls & STEM Impact Report features the personal, school and STEM related findings from The Girls’ Index™, the landmark national school-based survey conducted with 17,502 girls. This report helps us understand where girls need our support to pursue their STEM-related academic and career aspirations.
KEY FINDINGS
Girls’ interest in pursuing a career in STEM is increasing. Since the 2017 Girls’ Index™, overall rates of girls’ interest in STEM increased from 45% to 55%. The greatest gains in STEM interest were among 5th and 6th grade girls — with nearly a 20% gain.
Girls’ perceptions of their abilities in STEM subjects are declining. Since 2017, girls are less likely to believe they are good at STEM subjects such as math and science. Currently, 59% of girls believe they are good and math and science, down from 73% in 2017.
86% of girls want a career that helps others. Girls overwhelmingly report that they want a career that helps others, however far fewer (49%) report that they are considering a STEM career AND a career that helps others.
Race and income level do not impact STEM interest; confidence does. STEM interest did not vary markedly across race or socioeconomic status. There is a 3% variance in STEM interest across income levels and 8% between racial categories (i.e. 55% of white girls report they are considering a STEM career vs. 63% of Asian girls). Confident girls were nearly 20% more likely to report STEM interest.
Girls do not believe they are smart enough for their dream job. 58% of 9th-12th grade girls report that they do not believe they are smart enough for their dream job, up from 46% in 2017. Among 5th and 6th grade girls, it is 52% — up from 23% in 2017.
89% of girls are under pressure to fit into specific roles or stereotypes. The majority of girls report feeling pressured to fit into the specific stereotypes that are thought to be appropriate and expected for girls and women.”