20 February 2021

There is a huge gender gap in Stem fields. According to a 2017 United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation report, women make up only 35 per cent of higher education students studying in Stem fields worldwide, with the lowest enrolment in subjects such as information, communication and technology, and engineering.

In Singapore, Infocomm Media Development Authority figures reveal that about a third of engineering and IT undergraduates are female, and 30 per cent of Singapore’s 200,000-strong infocomm workforce are women.

While systemic biases in the workplace need to be tackled, parents also play a crucial role in encouraging their daughters’ interest in such subjects.

For example, a recent survey of 200 girls and 100 boys found that while girls aged 11 to 14 enjoyed and excelled in Stem subjects just as much as boys, they did not receive the same level of support from adults and lacked confidence in their abilities.

Beyond just women championing girls, it is equally important for men to empower their daughters and students for change to happen.