Exposing girls to STEM fields and encouraging their interest is key to engagement and entry into the field. Parents, teachers, civic leaders, mentors and others who want to encourage STEM education for girls can take a few concrete steps to accomplish this. Here are a few ideas:
- Introduce STEM education early. One way to encourage girls to ignore stereotypes about women in STEM is to reinforce their abilities early in life. Educators and school administrators can work on creating inclusive environments in school settings — ranging from the classroom to enrichment workshops — that make girls feel welcome in STEM education.
- Encourage participation outside the classroom. Many communities offer STEM enrichment programs that introduce younger students to STEM concepts and careers. Educators and school administrators can consider adding these enrichment programs to their afterschool and summer offerings. Parents and mentors can look for programs for girls outside of school. The local library is often a good source of information about local programs.
- Engage with the younger generation as a mentor. It is hard to be what you don’t see. Girls need to see women within the different fields to understand the opportunities and to see themselves in that role. Women who are already working in STEM fields may want to make it a little easier for the younger generations to follow in their footsteps, such as by reaching out to their alma mater — or any local school or organization — to offer their services as a mentor to young women who are interested in pursuing a STEM career.
At Grand Canyon University, you’ll find a welcoming community of students, instructors and support staff. When you’re ready to pursue a STEM education, you can choose from a wide array of degree programs offered by the College of Engineering and Technology, including degrees in software development, cybersecurity, biology and engineering. Fill out the form on this page to take the first step toward your academic journey at GCU.
1 COVID-19 has adversely affected the global economy and data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. Accordingly, data shown is effective September 2024, which can be found here: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, STEM Careers, retrieved Feb. 3, 2025.
2 Wang, M. T., & Degol, J. L. (2017). Gender Gap in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM): Current Knowledge, Implications for Practice, Policy, and Future Directions. Educational psychology review, 29(1), 119–140.
3 Digby, S. (2023, June 5). Diversity as the Catalyst for National Progress and Innovation: A Workplace Perspective. Linkedin. Retrieved Feb. 4, 2025.
4 AAUW. (2023). The STEM gap: women and girls in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Retrieved Aug. 24, 2023.
5McDermott-Murphy, C. (2022, June 22). Women in STEM need more than a law. The Harvard Gazette. Retrieved June 15, 2023.
6WiCys. (2023). Women in cybersecurity. Retrieved Aug. 24, 2023.
7 STEM women. (2023). STEM women career events. Retrieved August 1, 2023.
8Association for Women in Science (2023). Discover pathways to and through STEM. Retrieved Aug. 1, 2023.
9 U.S. Department of Energy. (2023). Resources: women and girls in STEM programs at the energy department. Retrieved Aug. 1, 2023.
10IEEE Women in Engineering. (2023). IEEE women in engineering. Retrieved Aug. 1, 2023.
11SWE.org. (2023). A catalyst for change for women. Retrieved Aug. 24, 2023.
12Womenintech.org. (n.d.). Women in Tech. Helping women embrace Tech. Retrieved Aug. 24, 2023.