In Canada, women make up only 23% of science and technology workers and less than 5% of trades workers. But diversity in science, technology, trades, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is important: diverse work forces are associated with benefits, including more novel scientific ideas with higher impact, and higher profits in the corporate sector.
Canada is also experiencing labour shortages, with high demand in many STEM fields. For example, labour shortages in the construction sector are impacting our ability to build new homes. Removing barriers for women, gender-diverse people, and other underrepresented groups to STEM careers can ease labour shortages well into the future.
Barriers to STEM entry
Girls and gender-diverse youth face barriers in STEM including limited role models, mentorship, and exposure, in addition to perceptions of incompetence, and assumptions of disinterest. For example, adults tend to provide less scientific information when teaching girls compared to boys, and perceive girls to be less competent in STEM than boys. These adult behaviours can limit girls’ exposure to STEM topics, and send messages to girls that they are not good at STEM.
An evidence-based approach with a powerful impact
The Canadian Association for Girls In Science (CAGIS) is Canada’s largest and longest-running STEM club for girls and gender-diverse youth aged 7-17. This award-winning club, founded in 1992, supports interest in STEM with online programming and in-person local clubs that visit labs, workshops, and field sites to meet mentors and do fun, hands-on activities. Sessions take participants out of the classroom and into labs to do experiments, wind tunnels to build and test model bridges, garages to tune up cars, and field sites to monitor environmental change.
CAGIS takes an evidence-based approach, informed by evaluation and scientific research on supporting underrepresented groups in STEM. In 2023 program evaluations, youth raved about their positive experiences: CAGIS made over 96% of participants want to learn more about STEM, over 96% feel like they could be good in STEM, and over 94% of participants consider a career in STEM.
Follow up surveys of program graduates demonstrate a strong and lasting impact, with 94% of respondents reporting they were studying or working in STEM fields. Most attributed their career trajectories to CAGIS. Many even discovered their careers at program events!
By providing young people with experiences like these, it is possible to break barriers and create a more equitable future in STEM.To support CAGIS, explore partnership opportunities, sign up to be a STEM expert or volunteer, visit GirlsInScience.ca
