A recent survey has revealed that gender disparity is perceived by 60% of teen girls in Ireland as the major obstruction in their quest to careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (Stem). Even though the statistic isn’t as high as it was in 2021, which had 83%, I Wish, a scheme seeking to heighten the presence of women in Stem, proposes that comprehensive societal and educational transformation is still necessary to provide equal platforms for young females.
The study involved 179 primary pupils and 1,703 female secondary enrollees and discovered that Stem subjects, other than maths and science, are offered in 68% of all-girls schools, in contrast to 87% of co-ed schools and 96% in all-boys schools. The research also highlighted that 91% of secondary level engineering students are boys.
A third of teen girls (33%) claimed that stereotypes persist, including the notion that boys are innately superior at subjects such as maths, engineering or technology, thus discouraging them from venturing into Stem fields. Co-founder of I Wish, Caroline O’Driscoll shared how their observations over 11 years shows that girls often begin with confidence, but undergo a downturn in their belief in their own abilities during the transition from child to adolescence.
She attributed this confidence slump to factors like the increasing use of social media, absence of role models, stereotypes and unconscious gender bias. She emphasized the need for early and specific intervention at primary level and during the teenage years when confidence is at its most fragile.
The World Economic Forum 2024 report predicts that by 2025, 97 million jobs could be taken over by AI, and yet the present Stem labour force is just 28.2% female, according to Gillian Keating, co-founder of I Wish. Even though there had been an “uplifting” 37% augmentation in girls engaging at least once with a Stem subject between 2018 and 2022, she was of the opinion that the drive for a diverse and inventive future workforce must be endorsed.
Keating advocated for an inclusive, societal approach to dealing with these issues, which incorporates tales of women in Stem throughout primary level subjects, and promoting Stem-related communal projects as a part of the curriculum for the sixth class. For students at secondary level, the group, I Wish, is advocating the introduction to locally-based female Stem professionals, equality in the availability of Stem courses in single-sex and mixed schools and training to break down gender stereotypes.
Releasing the study, Prime Minister Simon Harris asserted its findings highlight the effectiveness of early measures, adding, “it is pivotal that we maintain resilience for females throughout their secondary education and further.”