I love your short article in the October issue about getting girls involved and interested in STEM careers (Breaking Up the Boys' Club). I have been concerned about role models for my daughter since she was born four years ago. There was mostly mention of high school and college-age girls and women [in your notes], but there is another demographic largely underrepresented: children. As I seek out inspiring role models for my young Marie Curie, I am coming up short in a big way.
The princess culture that young girls are exposed to from the time they are born instills in them the idea that their value comes from their appearance. Even the famous Melissa and Doug toys haven't realized this important fact with their magnetic dress-up sets. The boys' sets have role model dress up: Police officer, fireman, superhero. The Girls? Pretty outfits. I'm not sure if you have a little girl, but mine likes to do experiments, pretend she's a veterinarian or doctor, and her most recent accomplishment: building a cardboard bulldozer.
Feeding our girls the princess culture until they're old enough to learn calculus sets them up to fail. Not many people realize this. If we want women in STEM, it starts by exposing them to healthy role models from birth; it has to be a norm.
Current Issue - April 2024