In the past 10 years, jobs requiring training in STEM have increased over 50%. Unfortunately, American students are ill-prepared to go into STEM careers. Girls in particular are underrepresented in STEM degrees and careers and are missing out on the opportunity to participate in many of the fastest growing jobs in the United States. (Afterschool Alliance, 2006).
Research shows that there is still widespread cultural stereotyping about gender aptitude in STEM subjects. Part of this stereotyping includes the notion that it is not possible to combine a science career with a family. While girls and boys initially have similar interest in STEM content, girls' interest drops precipitously by upper elementary and middle grades (AAUW, 1992).
The result is that few women are choosing careers involving STEM:
- In 2004, only 25% of degrees in computer science were awarded to women (NSF, 2007).
- Women accounted for only 22% of graduate students in engineering in 2004 (NSF, 2007).
- Women constitute 45% of the workforce in the U.S., but hold just 12% of science and engineering jobs (National Council of Research on Women, 2001).
Great Science for Girls presents an important opportunity to bring evidence-based inquiry science to this population of underserved students and to change attitudes about girls and science on the part of both girls and boys. Afterschool is the perfect venue since these “underrepresented groups” are the very students who are the “represented groups” in afterschool.
Through GSG, afterschool centers will be able to provide a learning environment for girls that includes opportunities for leadership; active, intelligent engagement with concerned adults and other students; inquiry-based, hands-on experimentation; risk-taking; challenges and problem-solving; cooperative learning and fun. All of these are essential factors in making science accessible and interesting to girls (Campbell and Steinbrueck, 1996; Hansen, Walker and Flom, 1995; Fancsali, 2002; National Science Foundation, 2003).
Research shows that participation in afterschool programs can positively impact (NIOST, 2003):
- School attendance
- Grades
- College aspirations
- Work habits
- Interpersonal skills
The goal of
Great Science for Girls is to stimulate girls’ curiosity, interest and persistence in STEM and break down the barriers of gender stereotyping. We assist afterschool centers across the country to provide a learning environment for girls that includes opportunities for leadership and engagement with fun, hands-on, inquiry-based science experiences, helping hundreds of thousands of girls understand that science is very much “a girl thing.”
