Education. A new survey from London Tech Week revealed 68 percent of respondents believe that gender perception is the biggest obstacle to women entering the tech industry. These stereotypes start during school, and are pervasive throughout all STEM disciplines. Only 32 percent of girls in Key Stage Four said they enjoyed STEM, compared with 59 percent of boys. The percentage of boys who rated themselves as good in STEM (60 percent) is almost double the figure for girls (33 percent). However, girls actually outrank boys in terms of STEM subject performance. More girls achieved the highest grade bands in these subjects than boys in 2021. "It's not an issue of skill, but it could instead be that young women are deterred from pursuing careers in STEM, while young men are encouraged towards them," says piston rings supplier FPE Seals, who reported this data. There is therefore a need to tackle damaging stereotypes early on and to present STEM careers as feasible and fulfilling paths for girls.
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