@gwagner man I wish my 12 year old would even allow me to sign her up for a STEM camp...😔
This is the age that the great separation happens where STEM becomes a boys subject and it's absolutely 💔💔💔 to watch...
Take a look at https://www.compoundchem.com/ there are a good few info graphics on Women in Science, which may provide an inspiration.
@zleap @gwagner yesterday I suggested she get a friend over to play computer games and was told "Nobody does that. Only boys".
They are far more aware of so-called "gender norms" than I think even we were growing up in the 1980s + 90s and I have no idea why or where it comes from. But I absolutely hate it
I think social media has a huge influence on young people both in a positive and negative way. I know someone who said she has given up with some computing communities as she said there is a real hostility towards women on those forums.
It is almost as if people are still being pideonholed in to careers / subjects based on gender rather than their abilities / interests.
I run a code club which is at present attended by both boys and girls, but they are younger (still primary age) the problem is keeping them engaged and moving people forward gets harder the more advanced they get.
Maybe a lot of it is down to the school and school community and peer pressure as to how people move forward once they reach secondary school.
It is certainly a problem as we NEED more people in STEM, having a good gender balance is essential for many reasons.
