How to make sure girls start—and stay—in STEM

My interest in science began in elementary school. My teacher, a retired Air Force pilot, drew a different plane on the board every day. I loved coming to school, looking at the board and learning how the plane worked that day. Unfortunately, math and science can be lonely places for girls.

At my STEM high school in Dallas, boys outnumbered girls four to one in the class of 2024. And my math and science teachers significantly outnumbered their female counterparts. I was the only girl in my AP physics class, and that environment, where I felt like the boys were always judging and doubting me, made me feel so uncomfortable even asking questions. I soon moved to a different physics class with more girls.

Disparities like these are a function of our society’s ongoing discouragement of girls pursuing STEM degrees and careers. This has to end, not just for equality, but for the health of our economy.

Consider a study of more than 11,000 girls in 12 European countries. She found that girls are interested in STEM from an early age, but typically drop that interest by age 15.

I can understand why. Self-confidence can be difficult to build and maintain. During a physics class in high school, I asked a friend a question about a topic that confused me. A guy near me said, “Wow, don’t you get it?”

“No, no. But I want to,” I replied. Later, when I got accepted to my top-choice college, I heard guys in my grade ask, “How did he get in? He didn’t work as hard as we did.”

I beg to differ. I am proud to be the first person in my family to go to college, and ignorant comments will not stop me from pursuing a science degree.

The world definitely needs more science graduates. By 2032, the United States is projected to add more than 1.1 million STEM jobs.

Women can do these jobs and fill this looming void in the workforce. From 2011 to 2021, the number of women in STEM increased by 31%, to 12.3 million. The proportion of women in the STEM workforce is also growing, from 32% in 2011 to 35% in 2021.

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But there is still a long way to go. Fewer than one in five information security analysts are women. Just under 12% of electrical engineers are women. And less than 6% of computer hardware engineers are women.

Research shows that one of the main reasons women tend not to pursue studies or careers in STEM fields is a lack of “self-efficacy.” Girls and women believe they are less able to succeed.

We can address these doubts by investing in efforts to show girls that they can achieve in the sciences. I’ve found this support through peer groups, teachers and internships where I’m surrounded by girls with similar interests, and where I don’t think twice about sharing ideas or asking for help.

Many of the STEM interns in my program at Abbott, a global healthcare company, are women. I see women at Abbott making life-changing contributions to healthcare every day. I don’t have to guess what women in scientific leadership positions are like. i see it

All girls should have this kind of exposure in school. Strong role models are essential to encourage girls to pursue STEM. So we need to encourage more women to become science and maths teachers. We can do this by offering more college scholarships and mentorship programs for women who plan to become STEM educators.

High school teachers and career counselors also need to be more proactive in encouraging girls to enroll in STEM classes, extracurriculars and internships. Research has shown that extracurricular activities in high school are among the deciding factors for women in college pursuing STEM.

However, encouragement is not enough on its own. High schools also need to do a better job of highlighting the wide spectrum of career options available in STEM.

A recent Pew Research Center survey found that most Americans believe STEM jobs offer less flexibility than careers in other industries. This is not true. Going into STEM doesn’t mean committing to an 80-hour-a-week work life. Balancing work and family life also has a place. In my current internship, I’ve been able to see how many interesting and fulfilling roles there are within a healthcare company, and not all of them require an advanced degree.

Soon “Women in STEM” will no longer be its own category, because it will be normal. Until then, I will continue to follow in the footsteps of the women before me, and hopefully leave a trail for those who come after.