Why Europe's girls aren't studying STEM

Why Europe's girls aren't studying STEM

Source / author: 
Microsoft
Country: 
EU
Publication date: 
15 March 2017
Publication type: 
Reports and studies

Most girls become interested in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) in school at the age of 11-1/2, but that interest starts to wane by the age of 15, according to newly released research by Microsoft.

 

Microsoft asked 11,500 girls and women between the ages of 11 and 30 in a dozen countries across Europe about their attitudes toward STEM.

 

Among the findings:

 

  • Girls cited a lack of female role models in STEM as a key reason they didn’t follow a career in the sector.
  • Young women are not getting enough practical, hands-on experience with STEM subjects.
  • Just 42 percent said they would consider a STEM-related career in the future.
  • 60 percent admitted they would feel more confident pursuing a career in STEM fields if they knew men and women were equally employed in those professions.