Gender role literacy: Girls in science?

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en-US"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Security-Policy" content="upgrade-insecure-requests"> <script type="text/javascript"> var pathInfo = { base: 'https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/themes/ideaorg/', css: 'css/', js: 'js/', swf: 'swf/', } </script> <title>Gender role literacy: Girls in science? – IDEA</title> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//s.w.org' /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="IDEA » Feed" href="https://www.idea.org/blog/feed/" /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="IDEA » Comments Feed" href="https://www.idea.org/blog/comments/feed/" /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="IDEA » Gender role literacy: Girls in science? Comments Feed" href="https://www.idea.org/blog/2014/03/05/gender-role-literacy-girls-in-science/feed/" /> <script type="text/javascript"> window._wpemojiSettings = {"baseUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/11\/72x72\/","ext":".png","svgUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/11\/svg\/","svgExt":".svg","source":{"concatemoji":"\/\/www.idea.org\/blog\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-emoji-release.min.js?ver=4.9.26"}}; !function(e,a,t){var n,r,o,i=a.createElement("canvas"),p=i.getContext&&i.getContext("2d");function s(e,t){var a=String.fromCharCode;p.clearRect(0,0,i.width,i.height),p.fillText(a.apply(this,e),0,0);e=i.toDataURL();return p.clearRect(0,0,i.width,i.height),p.fillText(a.apply(this,t),0,0),e===i.toDataURL()}function c(e){var t=a.createElement("script");t.src=e,t.defer=t.type="text/javascript",a.getElementsByTagName("head")[0].appendChild(t)}for(o=Array("flag","emoji"),t.supports={everything:!0,everythingExceptFlag:!0},r=0;r<o.length;r++)t.supports[o[r]]=function(e){if(!p||!p.fillText)return!1;switch(p.textBaseline="top",p.font="600 32px Arial",e){case"flag":return s([55356,56826,55356,56819],[55356,56826,8203,55356,56819])?!1:!s([55356,57332,56128,56423,56128,56418,56128,56421,56128,56430,56128,56423,56128,56447],[55356,57332,8203,56128,56423,8203,56128,56418,8203,56128,56421,8203,56128,56430,8203,56128,56423,8203,56128,56447]);case"emoji":return!s([55358,56760,9792,65039],[55358,56760,8203,9792,65039])}return!1}(o[r]),t.supports.everything=t.supports.everything&&t.supports[o[r]],"flag"!==o[r]&&(t.supports.everythingExceptFlag=t.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&t.supports[o[r]]);t.supports.everythingExceptFlag=t.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&!t.supports.flag,t.DOMReady=!1,t.readyCallback=function(){t.DOMReady=!0},t.supports.everything||(n=function(){t.readyCallback()},a.addEventListener?(a.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",n,!1),e.addEventListener("load",n,!1)):(e.attachEvent("onload",n),a.attachEvent("onreadystatechange",function(){"complete"===a.readyState&&t.readyCallback()})),(n=t.source||{}).concatemoji?c(n.concatemoji):n.wpemoji&&n.twemoji&&(c(n.twemoji),c(n.wpemoji)))}(window,document,window._wpemojiSettings); </script> <style type="text/css"> img.wp-smiley, img.emoji { display: inline !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; height: 1em !important; width: 1em !important; margin: 0 .07em !important; vertical-align: -0.1em !important; background: none !important; padding: 0 !important; } </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='yarppWidgetCss-css' href='//www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/plugins/yet-another-related-posts-plugin/style/widget.css' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='contact-form-7-css' href='//www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/plugins/contact-form-7/includes/css/styles.css' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='base-style-css' href='//www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/themes/ideaorg/style.css' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='base-theme-css' href='//www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/themes/ideaorg/theme.css' type='text/css' media='all' /> <script type='text/javascript' src='//www.idea.org/blog/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='//www.idea.org/blog/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery-migrate.min.js'></script> <link rel='https://api.w.org/' href='https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-json/' /> <link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" title="RSD" href="https://www.idea.org/blog/xmlrpc.php?rsd" /> <link rel="wlwmanifest" type="application/wlwmanifest+xml" href="https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-includes/wlwmanifest.xml" /> <link rel='prev' title='Challenges of crowdsourcing: Analysis of Historypin' href='https://www.idea.org/blog/2013/12/09/challenges-of-crowdsourcing-analysis-of-historypin/' /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.idea.org/blog/2014/03/05/gender-role-literacy-girls-in-science/" /> <link rel='shortlink' href='https://www.idea.org/blog/?p=4414' /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/json+oembed" href="https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.idea.org%2Fblog%2F2014%2F03%2F05%2Fgender-role-literacy-girls-in-science%2F" /> <link rel="alternate" type="text/xml+oembed" href="https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.idea.org%2Fblog%2F2014%2F03%2F05%2Fgender-role-literacy-girls-in-science%2F&format=xml" /> </head> <body class="inner single single-post postid-4414 single-format-standard"> <div id="wrapper" class="js-ajax-holder"> <header id="header"> <div class="container"> <div class="logo"> <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog"><img src="https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/themes/ideaorg/images/logo.png" alt="IDEA"></a> </div> <div class="search-block"> <a href="#" class="opener"> <picture>  <source srcset="https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/themes/ideaorg/images/small-search.png, https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/themes/ideaorg/images/small-search-2x.png 2x" media="(max-width: 767px)"> <source srcset="https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/themes/ideaorg/images/search.png, https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/themes/ideaorg/images/search-2x.png 2x">  <img src="search.png" alt="search"> </picture> </a> <div class="form-search"> <form action="https://www.idea.org/blog" method="get" class="search js-search-form"> <fieldset> <input id="search" name="s" type="search" placeholder="Type your search..." value=""> <button class="search-btn" type="submit" value=""> <picture>  <source srcset="https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/themes/ideaorg/images/small-search.png, https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/themes/ideaorg/images/small-search-2x.png 2x" media="(max-width: 767px)"> <source srcset="https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/themes/ideaorg/images/search.png, https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/themes/ideaorg/images/search-2x.png 2x">  <img src="search.png" alt="search"> </picture> </button> </fieldset> </form> <a class="opener2" href="#">Browse Topics</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="topics-page"> <div class="container"> <div class="topics-holder"> <a href="#" class="closer"><span></span></a> <div class="widget widget_pages"> <h3>Current page</h3> <ul class="js-ajax-links-holder"> <li class="page_item"><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/barbie/">Barbie,</a></li> <li class="page_item"><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/gender/">gender,</a></li> <li class="page_item"><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/gender-role/">Gender role,</a></li> <li class="page_item"><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/gender-studies/">Gender studies,</a></li> <li class="page_item"><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/girls/">girls,</a></li> <li class="page_item"><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/lego/">LEGO,</a></li> <li class="page_item"><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/science/">science,</a></li> <li class="page_item"><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/women/">women,</a></li> <li class="page_item"><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/women-in-computing/">Women in computing,</a></li> <li class="page_item"><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/women-in-technology/">Women in technology</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="widget widget_tag_cloud"> <h3>Other topics</h3> <div class="tagcloud js-ajax-links-holder"> <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/access/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-222 tag-link-position-1" style="font-size: 28.358208955224px;" aria-label="access (21 items)">access</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/android/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-112 tag-link-position-2" style="font-size: 21.791044776119px;" aria-label="Android (7 items)">Android</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/apple/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-110 tag-link-position-3" style="font-size: 26.268656716418px;" aria-label="Apple (15 items)">Apple</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/apps/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-169 tag-link-position-4" style="font-size: 25.970149253731px;" aria-label="apps (14 items)">apps</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/art/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-107 tag-link-position-5" style="font-size: 23.880597014925px;" aria-label="art (10 items)">art</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/audience/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-45 tag-link-position-6" style="font-size: 28.358208955224px;" aria-label="Audience (21 items)">Audience</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/blog/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-87 tag-link-position-7" style="font-size: 23.283582089552px;" aria-label="blog (9 items)">blog</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/classroom/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-188 tag-link-position-8" style="font-size: 21.791044776119px;" aria-label="classroom (7 items)">classroom</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/community/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-26 tag-link-position-9" style="font-size: 25.970149253731px;" aria-label="community (14 items)">community</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/content-management/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-39 tag-link-position-10" style="font-size: 25.522388059701px;" aria-label="content management (13 items)">content management</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/costs/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-70 tag-link-position-11" style="font-size: 21.044776119403px;" aria-label="costs (6 items)">costs</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/culture/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-217 tag-link-position-12" style="font-size: 22.537313432836px;" aria-label="culture (8 items)">culture</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/data/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-38 tag-link-position-13" style="font-size: 27.164179104478px;" aria-label="Data (17 items)">Data</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/dissemination/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-134 tag-link-position-14" style="font-size: 25.970149253731px;" aria-label="dissemination (14 items)">dissemination</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/e-learning/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-81 tag-link-position-15" style="font-size: 22.537313432836px;" aria-label="e-learning (8 items)">e-learning</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/education/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-192 tag-link-position-16" style="font-size: 26.716417910448px;" aria-label="education (16 items)">education</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/evaluation/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-135 tag-link-position-17" style="font-size: 26.268656716418px;" aria-label="evaluation (15 items)">evaluation</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/exhibits/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-53 tag-link-position-18" style="font-size: 24.925373134328px;" aria-label="exhibits (12 items)">exhibits</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/experiences/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-168 tag-link-position-19" style="font-size: 23.880597014925px;" aria-label="experiences (10 items)">experiences</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/facebook/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-85 tag-link-position-20" style="font-size: 20px;" aria-label="Facebook (5 items)">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/finding-information/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-21 tag-link-position-21" style="font-size: 20px;" aria-label="finding information (5 items)">finding information</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/free/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-248 tag-link-position-22" style="font-size: 21.791044776119px;" aria-label="free (7 items)">free</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/funding/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-149 tag-link-position-23" style="font-size: 21.044776119403px;" aria-label="funding (6 items)">funding</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/games/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-170 tag-link-position-24" style="font-size: 21.044776119403px;" aria-label="games (6 items)">games</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/google/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-74 tag-link-position-25" style="font-size: 24.477611940299px;" aria-label="google (11 items)">google</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/higher-education/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-61 tag-link-position-26" style="font-size: 21.044776119403px;" aria-label="higher education (6 items)">higher education</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/history/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-154 tag-link-position-27" style="font-size: 22.537313432836px;" aria-label="history (8 items)">history</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/interactivity-2/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-197 tag-link-position-28" style="font-size: 26.268656716418px;" aria-label="interactivity (15 items)">interactivity</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/ios/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-113 tag-link-position-29" style="font-size: 21.044776119403px;" aria-label="iOS (6 items)">iOS</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/ipad/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-108 tag-link-position-30" style="font-size: 22.537313432836px;" aria-label="IPad (8 items)">IPad</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/iphone/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-123 tag-link-position-31" style="font-size: 21.044776119403px;" aria-label="iPhone (6 items)">iPhone</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/learning-2/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-191 tag-link-position-32" style="font-size: 24.925373134328px;" aria-label="learning (12 items)">learning</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/metrics/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-33 tag-link-position-33" style="font-size: 20px;" aria-label="metrics (5 items)">metrics</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/mobile/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-71 tag-link-position-34" style="font-size: 27.761194029851px;" aria-label="mobile (19 items)">mobile</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/museum/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-105 tag-link-position-35" style="font-size: 30px;" aria-label="museum (27 items)">museum</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/navigation/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-22 tag-link-position-36" style="font-size: 20px;" aria-label="navigation (5 items)">navigation</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/online-course/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-295 tag-link-position-37" style="font-size: 20px;" aria-label="online course (5 items)">online course</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/open-access/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-177 tag-link-position-38" style="font-size: 21.044776119403px;" aria-label="open access (6 items)">open access</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/outreach/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-136 tag-link-position-39" style="font-size: 29.253731343284px;" aria-label="outreach (24 items)">outreach</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/personalization/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-137 tag-link-position-40" style="font-size: 21.044776119403px;" aria-label="personalization (6 items)">personalization</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/planning/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-139 tag-link-position-41" style="font-size: 24.925373134328px;" aria-label="planning (12 items)">planning</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/publishing/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-179 tag-link-position-42" style="font-size: 22.537313432836px;" aria-label="publishing (8 items)">publishing</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/smartphone/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-114 tag-link-position-43" style="font-size: 21.044776119403px;" aria-label="smartphone (6 items)">smartphone</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/social-media-2/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-51 tag-link-position-44" style="font-size: 26.716417910448px;" aria-label="social media (16 items)">social media</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/study/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-133 tag-link-position-45" style="font-size: 21.791044776119px;" aria-label="study (7 items)">study</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/twitter/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-164 tag-link-position-46" style="font-size: 22.537313432836px;" aria-label="Twitter (8 items)">Twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/user-interface/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-20 tag-link-position-47" style="font-size: 28.358208955224px;" aria-label="user interface (21 items)">user interface</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/video/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-118 tag-link-position-48" style="font-size: 21.791044776119px;" aria-label="video (7 items)">video</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/visitors/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-97 tag-link-position-49" style="font-size: 25.522388059701px;" aria-label="visitors (13 items)">visitors</a>, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/visualization/" class="tag-cloud-link tag-link-199 tag-link-position-50" style="font-size: 21.044776119403px;" aria-label="visualization (6 items)">visualization</a> </div> </div> <div class="js-ajax-frame"> <section class="post-list"> <h3>Recent posts</h3> <article class="post"> <div class="article-footer"> <time datetime="2014">5 Mar 2014</time> <h4><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/2014/03/05/gender-role-literacy-girls-in-science/">Gender role literacy: Girls in science?</a></h4> </div> <p>There are gender wars, and then there are casualties. It wasn’t until 2011 that the behemoth toymaker LEGO acknowledged girls’ desire to build with bricks, even though the company had long before made a seemingly effortless pivot to co-branding, video games, and major motion pictures. So it’s little wonder that girls face all-too-real obstacles when <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/2014/03/05/gender-role-literacy-girls-in-science/">[…]</a></p> <a class="more" href="https://www.idea.org/blog/2014/03/05/gender-role-literacy-girls-in-science/">Read more</a> </article> <article class="post"> <div class="article-footer"> <time datetime="2013">9 Dec 2013</time> <h4><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/2013/12/09/challenges-of-crowdsourcing-analysis-of-historypin/">Challenges of crowdsourcing: Analysis of Historypin</a></h4> </div> <p>Crowdsourcing can build virtual community, engage the public, and build large knowledge databases about science and culture. But what does it take, and how fast can you grow? For some insight, we look at a crowdsourced history site: Historypin is an appealing database of historical photos, with dates, locations, captions, and other metadata. It’s called History <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/2013/12/09/challenges-of-crowdsourcing-analysis-of-historypin/">[…]</a></p> <a class="more" href="https://www.idea.org/blog/2013/12/09/challenges-of-crowdsourcing-analysis-of-historypin/">Read more</a> </article> <article class="post"> <div class="article-footer"> <time datetime="2013">18 Nov 2013</time> <h4><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/2013/11/18/dinovember-creative-literacy-starts-young/">Dinovember: Creative literacy starts young</a></h4> </div> <p>“Uh-oh,” Refe Tuma heard his girls whisper. “Mom and Dad are not going to like this.” It’s Dinovember, and his family’s plastic dinosaurs have been getting into mischief all month. Every year, Tuma and his wife devote the month of November to “convincing our children that, while they sleep, their plastic dinosaur figures come to life. Related <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/2013/11/18/dinovember-creative-literacy-starts-young/">[…]</a></p> <a class="more" href="https://www.idea.org/blog/2013/11/18/dinovember-creative-literacy-starts-young/">Read more</a> </article> </section> </div> </div> </div> </div> </header> <main role="main" id="main"><div id="twocolumns"> <div class="container"> <h1>Gender role literacy: Girls in science?</h1> <div class="twocolumns-holder"> <section id="content" class="about-holder img-posts"> <article class="post"> <article class="about-post"> <div class="img-holder"><img class="alignright wp-image-4418" src="http://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Screen-Shot-2014-03-05-at-1.27.44-PM-150x143.png" alt="Pink + Legos = Girls" width="135" height="129" srcset="https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Screen-Shot-2014-03-05-at-1.27.44-PM-150x143.png 150w, https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Screen-Shot-2014-03-05-at-1.27.44-PM-240x229.png 240w, https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Screen-Shot-2014-03-05-at-1.27.44-PM.png 310w" sizes="(max-width: 135px) 100vw, 135px" /></div> <div class="text-holder">There are gender wars, and then there are casualties. It wasn’t until 2011 that the behemoth toymaker LEGO acknowledged girls’ desire to <a href="http://www.latimes.com/opinion/commentary/la-oe-allen-lego-gender-neutral-toys-20140228,0,1005999.story#axzz2v6wALKEt">build with bricks</a>, even though the company had long before made a seemingly effortless pivot to co-branding, video games, and major motion pictures. So it’s little wonder that girls face all-too-real obstacles when it comes to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields.<span id="more-4414"></span></div> </article> <article class="about-post"> <div class="img-holder"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-4419" src="http://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Screen-Shot-2014-03-05-at-1.29.15-PM-545x266.png" alt="Are they Cheerleaders? " width="545" height="266" srcset="https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Screen-Shot-2014-03-05-at-1.29.15-PM-545x266.png 545w, https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Screen-Shot-2014-03-05-at-1.29.15-PM-150x73.png 150w, https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Screen-Shot-2014-03-05-at-1.29.15-PM-240x117.png 240w, https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Screen-Shot-2014-03-05-at-1.29.15-PM.png 793w" sizes="(max-width: 545px) 100vw, 545px" /></div> <div class="text-holder">Sometimes the barrier is a matter of perception. In the Washington Post, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/wp/2014/02/26/im-an-engineer-not-a-cheerleader-lets-abandon-silly-rules-about-gender-roles/">Sara Sakowitz writes</a> that her all-girls robotics team (above) was mistakenly identified as a group of cheerleaders. Sakowitz quoted astrophysicist Meg Urry, who said, “discrimination isn’t a thunderbolt, it isn’t an abrupt slap in the face. It’s the slow drumbeat of being unappreciated, feeling uncomfortable, and encountering roadblocks along the path to success.”</div> </article> <article class="about-post"> <div class="img-holder"><a href="http://www.ngcproject.org/engaging-girls-stem"><img class="alignleft size-full wp-image-4421" src="http://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Screen-Shot-2014-03-05-at-1.30.11-PM.png" alt=" National Girls Collaborative Project" width="136" height="146" /></a></div> <div class="text-holder">That isn’t to say folks aren’t trying to improve STEM-related gender role literacy. The National Girls Collaborative Project has compiled a <a href="http://www.ngcproject.org/engaging-girls-stem">clearinghouse of projects</a> and resources that collaborate to ignite girls’ interest in STEM related topics. Event the White House has launched a collaboration between the Offices of Science and Technology Policy and the <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ostp/women">Council on Women and Girls</a>, saying that “Supporting women STEM students and researchers is not only an essential part of America’s strategy to out-innovate, out-educate, and out-build the rest of the world; it is also important to women themselves.”</p> <p>Although “STEM women” out-earn women in other types of jobs – a 33% boost over their sisters – the same percentage of women in STEM occupations feel isolated at work. The Huffington Post <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kathy-mulvany/how-the-case-of-soso-luni_b_4876155.html">reports</a> that “40 percent reported lacking role models, and 84 percent reported lacking sponsors or someone to help make their accomplishments visible throughout the organization.” </div> </article> <article class="about-post"> <div class="img-holder"><img class="size-full wp-image-4416" src="http://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Screen-Shot-2014-03-05-at-1.26.03-PM.png" alt="Computer Engineer Barbie" width="276" height="500" srcset="https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Screen-Shot-2014-03-05-at-1.26.03-PM.png 276w, https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Screen-Shot-2014-03-05-at-1.26.03-PM-82x150.png 82w, https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Screen-Shot-2014-03-05-at-1.26.03-PM-165x300.png 165w" sizes="(max-width: 276px) 100vw, 276px" /><span class="img-caption"> Computer Engineer Barbie</span></div> <div class="text-holder"> Urry’s “slow drumbeat” could be keeping girls from entering fields that could provide them options both personal and professional. Columnist <a href="http://www.mercurynews.com/mike-cassidy/ci_25224467/women-missing-out-lucrative-careers-computer-science">Mike Cassidy writes</a> in the San Jose Mercury News, “The dearth of women in computing has the potential to slow the U.S. economy, which needs more students in the pipeline to feed its need for more programmers.” He notes that, between 2010 and 2020, there will be 1.4 million computer science jobs and only 400,000 qualified U.S. college graduates to fill them.</p> <p>Harvey Mudd College President Maria Klawe points out that, in addition to generous compensation, the field of computer science offers flexibility. This flexibility is a natural fit for women – and men – who in the future may opt to work remotely while raising a family.</p> <p>And when those young families are being raised, parents might want to consider having their daughters play with STEM-friendly toys. LEGO could be a start, or, as the New York Times reports, <a href="http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/11/29/shopping-for-a-girl-consider-science-and-engineering-toys/">steering girls toward computer engineer Barbie</a>, Robot Girl Lottie, or a Roominate engineering kit may start to break down some of the roadblocks and challenge gender roles when it comes to science, math, engineering, and technology. </div> </article> <div class='yarpp-related'> <h3>Related posts:</h3><ol> <li><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/2012/11/14/three-examples-of-multidisciplinary-outreach-to-h-s-students/" rel="bookmark" title="Three examples of multidisciplinary outreach to H.S. students">Three examples of multidisciplinary outreach to H.S. students </a> <small>Sciences and history can nicely meet at historical sites. It engages the history-minded in science, and the science-minded...</small></li> <li><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/2011/08/29/nasa-partners-with-community-lego-event-for-community-outreach/" rel="bookmark" title="NASA partners with community LEGO event for community outreach">NASA partners with community LEGO event for community outreach </a> <small>A cheap and effective way to do community outreach is to piggyback or partner with existing events. NASA...</small></li> <li><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/2012/12/04/math-and-science-ios-apps-for-young-children/" rel="bookmark" title="Math and Science iOS apps for young children">Math and Science iOS apps for young children </a> <small>In the era of tablets and smart phones, parents of small children may consider educational apps. Recently, the “Slashdot”...</small></li> </ol> </div> </article> <section class="comment-respond"> <div id="respond" class="comment-respond"> <h3 id="reply-title" class="comment-reply-title">Leave a Reply <small><a rel="nofollow" id="cancel-comment-reply-link" href="/blog/2014/03/05/gender-role-literacy-girls-in-science/#respond" style="display:none;">Cancel reply</a></small></h3> <form action="https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-comments-post.php" method="post" id="commentform" class="comment-form"> <p class="comment-notes"><span id="email-notes">Your email address will not be published.</span> Required fields are marked <span class="required">*</span></p><p class="comment-form-author"><label for="author">Name <span class="required">*</span></label> <input id="author" name="author" type="text" value="" size="30" maxlength="245" required='required' /></p> <p class="comment-form-email"><label for="email">Email <span class="required">*</span></label> <input id="email" name="email" type="text" value="" size="30" maxlength="100" aria-describedby="email-notes" required='required' /></p> <p class="comment-form-url"><label for="url">Website</label> <input id="url" name="url" type="text" value="" size="30" maxlength="200" /></p> <p class="comment-form-comment"><label for="comment">Comment</label> <textarea id="comment" name="comment" cols="45" rows="8" maxlength="65525" required="required"></textarea></p><p class="form-submit"><input name="submit" type="submit" id="submit" class="submit" value="Post Comment" /> <input type='hidden' name='comment_post_ID' value='4414' id='comment_post_ID' /> <input type='hidden' name='comment_parent' id='comment_parent' value='0' /> </p><p style="display: none;"><input type="hidden" id="akismet_comment_nonce" name="akismet_comment_nonce" value="307418741c" /></p><p style="display: none;"><input type="hidden" id="ak_js" name="ak_js" value="60"/></p> </form> </div> </section> </section> <aside id="sidebar"> <section class="widget inner-text"> <h3>Related posts</h3> <article class="post"> <h2><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/2012/11/14/three-examples-of-multidisciplinary-outreach-to-h-s-students/">Three examples of multidisciplinary outreach to H.S. students<i class="icon-arrow-right-alt1"></i></a></h2> <p>Sciences and history can nicely meet at historical sites. It engages the history-minded in science, and the science-minded in history. Two examples were recently discussed by Chris Shires, director of interpretation and programs at the Edsel & Eleanor Ford House. Related posts: Mobile museums (on a truck): History and science delivered There is no better way <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/2012/11/14/three-examples-of-multidisciplinary-outreach-to-h-s-students/">[…]</a></p> </article> <article class="post"> <h2><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/2011/08/29/nasa-partners-with-community-lego-event-for-community-outreach/">NASA partners with community LEGO event for community outreach<i class="icon-arrow-right-alt1"></i></a></h2> <p>A cheap and effective way to do community outreach is to piggyback or partner with existing events. NASA did this in a subtle and effective way earlier this month at an annual event for LEGO enthusiasts. “BrickFair” drew over 17 thousand people in a August weekend to a conference center near Dulles airport. Related posts: What is strategic <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/2011/08/29/nasa-partners-with-community-lego-event-for-community-outreach/">[…]</a></p> </article> <article class="post"> <h2><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/2012/12/04/math-and-science-ios-apps-for-young-children/">Math and Science iOS apps for young children<i class="icon-arrow-right-alt1"></i></a></h2> <p>In the era of tablets and smart phones, parents of small children may consider educational apps. Recently, the “Slashdot” online community discussed apps and kids. Nerdy parents chimed in with suggestions. This tech-savvy community is often reluctant to rely on apps, favoring “play time outside with soccer and baseballs, and inside with blocks, Hot Wheels, PlayDoh, <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/2012/12/04/math-and-science-ios-apps-for-young-children/">[…]</a></p> </article> </section> </aside> </div> </div> </div> </main> <aside class="info-links"> <div class="container"> <div class="left-holder"> <p><time datetime="2014">05 Mar 2014</time> , post by <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/author/idea/" title="Posts by IDEA" rel="author">IDEA</a></p> </div> <div class="right-holder"> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/gender/">gender</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/women/">women</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/girls/">girls</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/women-in-technology/">Women in technology</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/women-in-computing/">Women in computing</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/barbie/">Barbie</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/gender-studies/">Gender studies</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/gender-role/">Gender role</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/science/">science</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/tag/lego/">LEGO</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </aside> <aside class="items-holder"> <div class="container"> <div class="list-items widget-apps-widget"><h3>Read more about <br class="separator"><strong>our language-related apps.</strong></h3> <ul> <li> <div class="item-holder"> <a href="http://www.idea.org/otherwordly"> <picture>  <source srcset="https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/otherwordly_appicon_1024px_rounded_01-35x36.png, https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/otherwordly_appicon_1024px_rounded_01-70x70.png 2x" media="(max-width: 767px)"> <source srcset="https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/otherwordly_appicon_1024px_rounded_01-70x70.png, https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/otherwordly_appicon_1024px_rounded_01-140x140.png 2x">  <img src="https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/otherwordly_appicon_1024px_rounded_01-70x70.png" alt=""> </picture> <span class="title" style="color:#c46e3c">OtherWordly</span> </a> </div> </li> <li> <div class="hr"></div> <div class="item-holder"> <a href="http://www.idea.org/inotherwords"> <picture>  <source srcset="https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/inotherwords_appicon_1024px_rounded_01-35x36.png, https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/inotherwords_appicon_1024px_rounded_01-70x70.png 2x" media="(max-width: 767px)"> <source srcset="https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/inotherwords_appicon_1024px_rounded_01-70x70.png, https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/inotherwords_appicon_1024px_rounded_01-140x140.png 2x">  <img src="https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/inotherwords_appicon_1024px_rounded_01-70x70.png" alt=""> </picture> <span class="title" style="color:#8b8be0">In Other Words</span> </a> </div> </li> <li> <div class="hr"></div> <div class="item-holder"> <a href="http://www.idea.org/linguabase"> <picture>  <source srcset="https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/linguabase_appicon_1024px_rounded_01-35x36.png, https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/linguabase_appicon_1024px_rounded_01-70x70.png 2x" media="(max-width: 767px)"> <source srcset="https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/linguabase_appicon_1024px_rounded_01-70x70.png, https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/linguabase_appicon_1024px_rounded_01-140x140.png 2x">  <img src="https://www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/linguabase_appicon_1024px_rounded_01-70x70.png" alt=""> </picture> <span class="title" style="color:#b859cc">Liguabase</span> </a> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </aside> <footer id="footer"> <div class="container"> <nav class="page-nav"> <ul> <li id="menu-item-4498" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-home menu-item-4498"><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/">Home</a></li> <li id="menu-item-4497" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4497"><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/about/">Mission & history</a></li> <li id="menu-item-4499" class="popup menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-4499"><a title="popup" class="js-btn-show-popups" href="#wrapper">Browse topics</a></li> <li id="menu-item-4666" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-4666"><a href="https://www.idea.org/blog/contact/">Contact IDEA</a></li> <li>Copyright © 2024 <a href="https://www.idea.org/blog">IDEA</a></li> </ul> </nav> </div> </footer> </div> <link rel='stylesheet' id='yarppRelatedCss-css' href='//www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/plugins/yet-another-related-posts-plugin/style/related.css' type='text/css' media='all' /> <script type='text/javascript'> /* <![CDATA[ */ var wpcf7 = {"apiSettings":{"root":"https:\/\/www.idea.org\/blog\/wp-json\/contact-form-7\/v1","namespace":"contact-form-7\/v1"},"cached":"1"}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type='text/javascript' src='//www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/plugins/contact-form-7/includes/js/scripts.js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='//www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/themes/ideaorg/js/comment-reply.js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='//www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/themes/ideaorg/js/jquery.main.js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='//www.idea.org/blog/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js'></script> <script async="async" type='text/javascript' src='//www.idea.org/blog/wp-content/plugins/akismet/_inc/form.js'></script> </body>  <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-Y68B45MT0H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-Y68B45MT0H'); </script> </html>

CINXE.COM

Gender role literacy: Girls in science? – IDEA