Girls in STEM Education: Closing
the Gender Gap in Technology

From Ada Lovelace and the early days of computer programming to the current age of artificial intelligence and virtual reality, women have made remarkable and long-lasting contributions to the digital landscape in which we all live—often, historically, against the odds, in a largely male-dominated industry which hasn’t always appreciated their talent. 

Today, while there have been huge advancements in the collective social mindset when it comes to inspiring both sides of the gender divide for careers in technology, a gap does still remain. One that can only help to restrict young women and girls from realising their true potential in the STEM fields. 

Underrepresentation of women in tech industries

The gender gap in the technology sector has shown signs of narrowing in the last decade, but there’s still plenty of work to be done before equal representation is achieved—this is a theme particularly apparent in leadership positions within tech industries. Indeed, in a recent collaborative study, it was found that 32.8% of women had entry-level positions in computer science-related jobs, while the figure is much lower for those holding CEO or senior leadership roles in the industry, at just 10.9%. 

The current landscape demands better representation. As our lives become increasingly intertwined with technology, the gender divide becomes evermore apparent. 

The challenges within STEM Education

Perhaps one of the biggest hurdles women face on the road to a career in the technology sector is at education level. Traditionally, the percentage of men pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math is much higher than women. While more than half of bachelor’s degrees awarded are to women, most are for subjects outside of the STEM fields. Research suggests that only around 20% of women enrol in computer sciences, engineering and physical science degrees.

It’s clearly not for a lack of talent in these subjects, either. Mathematics is a cornerstone in the STEM fields, and girls in schools are matching or surpassing the achievements of their male familiars. Furthermore, research indicates that girls who pursue mathematics also tend to set higher expectations for themselves compared to boys with similar academic credentials, believing that they need to be exceptional in order to thrive in a field that has traditionally been dominated by men.

It’s up to school leaders and ICT providers, then, to provide encouragement and incentives for girls in education to take an active, hands-on interest in STEM subjects. Indeed, it’s been shown that girls who participate in STEM clubs and extracurricular activities stand a better chance of pursuing these interests later in their education. Meanwhile, by increasing access to STEM clubs, and offering STEM Rewards, we can hope to facilitate an experiential learning approach that girls look for in their early years in the classroom.

Statistically, the fundamental change occurs at the university level. The tired, outdated belief that science and math fields are for boys, while humanities and arts are for girls, is one that loses its efficacy the further down the education path you go, but it’s important to challenge these gender stereotypes at an early age.

The global gender divide

There’s a global issue at play here, too. In addition to unfit-for-purpose infrastructure, a shortage of digital skills and the economic considerations involved, the gender divide remains one of the key challenges facing the creation of a balanced worldwide digital society. 

Indeed, according to the latest data published by the International Telecommunication Union, the percentage of women using the internet globally stands at 57%, compared to 62% of men. This means, in relative terms, that the worldwide internet use gender gap stands at 8% which can only exacerbate the issues of gender disparity within the technology fields.

Providing equal access to high-quality internet services, while ensuring students have all the necessary skills and ICT training to use digital technologies, will not only improve gateways into STEM subjects within schools but also ensure a clearer path into these male-dominated industries later in life.

How can Computeam help?

If you’d like to find out more about our partnership with Tech She Can, or would like to find out how our ICT services for schools might be able to help you, then please get in touch.