We need more women in science and tech
LAURA BURTON, a head student at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, discusses the gender imbalance in science and maths subjects
CURRENTLY in the UK, women are significantly underrepresented in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) industries, which have historically been dominated by men.
Many organisations have rightly identified that this needs to change and are helping to encourage more school-aged girls to choose a career in STEM.
As a girl studying maths, physics, and biology at A-level, I am acutely aware of how important it is to show girls that they belong in the fields of science and maths.
The gender balance of my A-level classes has been a stark reminder for me of the wider gender imbalance in the STEM industry; I am in the minority in all of my classes, and I am the only girl in my physics class.
National statistics of the number of girls taking maths and physics A-levels echo this trend. Despite girls performing equally well in these subjects at GCSE level, they are significantly less likely to choose to continue to study them post-16. Maths and physics have always been two of my favourite subjects, and for me, deciding to study them as A-levels was a no-brainer.
I greatly enjoy my studies and get on very well with my classmates. That being said, when I was picking my A-levels, the thought of being one of very few girls in my classes did worry me slightly.
There were times when I had doubts about whether this was the right path for me. As I have recently been going through the process of choosing a degree course and applying to university, I have been going through this struggle once again.
I hope to study mechanical engineering, which is a field I am passionate about, but it can be intimidating to know that just nine per cent of graduates from this course across the UK are female.
It is also daunting to know that this gender imbalance is likely to continue into my career.
I believe that the disparity in the number of girls and boys choosing to study science and maths-related subjects is rooted in a lack of confidence.
There is no reason why girls would be less suited to these subjects than boys, yet they are often seen as masculine.
This leads girls to believe that there is no place for them in physics and maths classrooms, meaning fewer girls study STEM subjects at university, and consequently fewer women work in these industries.
Personally, I would not have chosen the career path I have if I hadn’t been inspired and encouraged by other women already in this industry.
From speaking to women at my work experience placements to participating in online talks from female engineers, seeing women succeeding in engineering has made me determined to join them.
I feel my experience proves that once girls see people like themselves studying and working in STEM, it will give them the confidence to know that they belong in this industry too.