GirlsTeam: What if Kim Kardashian was a STEM role model?

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to examine the lack of interest young women have in Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) degrees and careers. The numbers of available STEM jobs are increasing, but there is a lack of women filling those positions. This paper examines gender biases and stereotypes that may influence young women when choosing whether or not to pursue a STEM as a college major and/or career. I explored potential design solutions to the problem with girls from Baltimore City. The methodology used for this research was design thinking, which consists of emphasizing, defining, ideating, prototyping, and testing the problem. The research was executed in seven 60-minute sessions conducted in a classroom. During these sessions, we discussed STEM jobs, existing STEM resources, gender norms perceived of girls, and produced suggestions for new resources. Our discoveries yielded several recommendations for teachers, designers, and others. Specifically, STEM resources should: (1) Use co-design to expose students to STEM, (2) teach students about STEM professionals in a school setting, (3) introduce students to STEM professionals and encourage those relationships, and (4) teach students about STEM early on.