01 Apr Empowering Girls in STEM
A few months ago, my Girl Scout troop of 8 and 9-year-old girls voted on which badges they wanted to earn. They overwhelmingly voted to earn the “STEM Career Exploration” badge, and the “Coding” badge, among others. It was clear they were very excited about STEM subjects. The funny thing is, a number of them didn’t know exactly what STEM was, but they did know that it’s cool.
How does my troop know that STEM is cool, and that there is a place for them in it? I give credit to the many organizations that have been working to encourage women’s interest in STEM: from established organizations like Girl Scouts, to new but now well-known brands like the Rebel Girls books, to up-and-coming organizations such as Lost Women of Science. Thanks to these organizations and so many others, girls can see themselves as scientists, they can practice being scientists themselves, and they can hear the stories of women who came before them.
Elevating the visibility of women in STEM roles is particularly crucial for young girls to imagine themselves in similar positions. Our Girl Scout troop enjoyed hosting a computer engineer who shared insights into her profession. Similarly, our local library organized a meet-and-greet session with a female paleontologist. Initiatives like Lost Women of Science amplify the stories of lesser-known women, reaching millions and shedding light on the contributions of women throughout history who were overlooked.
When girls see individuals like them excelling as chemists, mechanical engineers, or app developers, they dream of following in their footsteps. I’ve observed firsthand the power of both historical and modern narratives that highlight women in STEM for young girls. Stories of historical women show girls that women succeeded even if they weren’t always welcomed, and stories of modern women demonstrate that STEM is an area in which girls and women can thrive.
By Mary Meyn, Director of Research.