The number of teenage girls who believe they’re capable of getting their dream job has dropped significantly over the past seven years, according to a new report from nonprofit Ruling Our eXperiences.
While 58 percent of high school girls said they do not think they are smart enough for their dream job this year, only 46 percent said the same in 2017.
But this number was particularly high among the youngest surveyed— fifth and sixth graders, with 52 percent not believing they are smart enough for their dream job, nearly double the 23 percent who said the same in 2017.
This trend mirrors a growing confidence gap in girls interested in pursuing STEM careers. While the interest in STEM jobs is growing among girls, the confidence levels in their own STEM abilities are getting lower and lower.
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Roughly 55 percent of girls said they were interested in a STEM career, up from 45 percent in 2017, and this was true regardless of racial identity or socioeconomic status.
But confidence in STEM abilities among girls was only at 59 percent, down from the 73 percent of girls who said they were good at math and science in 2017.
“Our girls are on the brink of incredible STEM opportunities, their interest high and their aspirations strong,” Lisa Hinkelman, ROX Founder and CEO, said in a statement. “Yet, we also see them grappling with declining confidence, persistent stereotypes and a disconnect between their desire to help others and their perception of STEM careers. It is our responsibility – as educators, STEM professionals and members of the community – to bridge these gaps and pave the way for our girls to thrive in STEM fields.”
The report was based on the responses of 17,500 girls in grades 5 to 12 across the United States.
Currently, women only make up 34 percent of the workforce in the STEM field, according to the American Association of University Women, revealing there’s still a glaring gender gap in these sectors.
“Girls need ‘mirrors’ to see themselves in to imagine what a career in STEM might look like,” Sara Smolevitz, Learning Design Manager at Code Ninjas, told Newsweek. “Giving girls access to women in STEM fields whom they can learn from, understand their story, and picture their day-to-day helps break down this barrier.”
Beyond girls’ doubts about their own STEM abilities, more girls are interested in other types of careers, according to the report. Roughly 86 percent of girls said they wanted a career that helps others, and they may not view STEM jobs as necessarily conducive to that goal.
“Teen girls often wish to fit in their peer groups and social circles, and it’s a time when gender roles and social norms rise to the surface,” women in tech network Rewriting the Code founder Sue Harnett told Newsweek. “Men have dominated the technology field and can represent a culture that is usually for members of the boys club. Teen girls must be encouraged and supported by families and teachers that this is not true.”
Roughly one in four workers in the U.S. are employed in STEM roles, and the field is anticipated to grow by 11 percent between now and 2031.
For many, the interest in STEM will begin at home with the support of friends and family, Harnett said.
“Parents must address gender stereotypes and expose their daughters to women in STEM,” Harnett said. “This could be the family physician, family members who work in STEM fields and incredible role models working in areas that interest them.”
