Why aren't more girls pursuing STEM?

Happy Monday!

I hope the Buckeyes' time in Oregon didn't ruin your weekend like it did for my husband. Instead of dwelling on a loss, I'm thinking about all the cool stuff that happened this week. Dustin and I saw The Book of Mormon at the Ohio Theatre. My friends got married in a fairy-garden-themed wedding. And I drank my first PSL of the season.

Don't let a bunch of 19-year-olds ruin your week (they're trying their best!!)

Anyhoo, let's review.

Review Session

More girls are interested in STEM careers but confidence levels about their math and science abilities hold them back from actually pursuing them, according to a new study backed by Battelle.

The report, The Girls’ Index: Girls & STEM 2024 Impact Report, was produced by Battelle and Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX), a Columbus-based nonprofit focused on helping girls navigate adolescence and feel confident in themselves.

The findings were both encouraging and sobering, according to Battelle CEO Louis Von Thaer.

The bright side: Girls' interest in STEM careers is on the rise. Since 2017, overall rates of girls’ interest in STEM increased from 45% to 55%. The greatest gains in interest were among 5th and 6th grade girls, with nearly a 20% gain.

And overwhelming majority of girls (86%) also report that they want to pursue careers that help others. Of that group, a little less than half (49%) report they are considering careers in STEM and a career that helps others.

But the biggest barrier to those girls pursuing STEM careers? Confidence.

Girls' reported confidence levels in their STEM abilities took a massive hit over the last few years. In 2017, 73% of girls surveyed said they believe they are good at math and science. That number dropped to 59% in 2023.

Lisa Hinkelman, founder and CEO of ROX, said the data in the report "paints a nuanced picture of girls' experiences with STEM."

"On one hand, we see tremendous potential and readiness among girls to embrace STEM opportunities. Their interest in these fields has grown significantly since our initial study," she said. "On the other hand, we observe concerning trends in girls' confidence levels, particularly during the critical middle school years, which can profoundly impact their perceptions of their abilities in math and science."

For more about the report and what folks say can be done to help girls achieve their dreams, check out my latest article.

Extra Credit

• Are you a college student planning to vote in November's election? Here's everything you need to know.
• Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said Friday that the lawsuit against Columbus City Schools is "far from over" and filed a memorandum opposing the case's dismissal after the district announced last week that it would bus an additional 100 charter and nonpublic students .
• A Washington-based nonprofit organization is investigating Ohio's funding for private schools , after lawmakers approved at least $4.9 million in state money for private school projects.
• Dozens of Jewish Ohio State University students gathered before daybreak last week to commemorate one year since the deadliest attack in Israel's history. Here's how they remembered the day.

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Take care,

Sheridan Hendrix

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Why aren't more girls pursuing STEM?