Society has come a long way in terms of gender equality, but it still has far to go when it comes to encouraging greater female representation in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).

Did you know that women only represent 28% of the STEM workforce? This underrepresentation is the unfortunate result of biases against girls that are often reinforced by parents, teachers, and even toy makers, who unwittingly perpetuate certain gender prejudices.

Here are some tips to help families cultivate a love for STEM in their girls, and to foster an environment for continued growth.

1. Adopt the right mindset

Gender stereotypes, even unspoken ones, regarding STEM abilities can have a significant effect on kids. Research has shown that there is very little difference in boys’ and girls’ average abilities in STEM subjects, although many parents erroneously believe girls need to work harder than boys.

If girls are constantly exposed to such views and expectations from a young age, they will likely come to believe they are not cut out for STEM subjects.

Don’t underestimate the power of expectations – especially coming from Mum and Dad – and the profound impact it can have on your children. Set the right kind of expectations for your kids to flourish in every field, regardless of their gender.

2. Invite questions

• “Mummy, why can’t I fly like a bird even if I flap my arms?”
• “Why does the sun disappear at night?”

These types of incessant questions thrown at parents often end with: “That’s just the way things are, dear.”

Encourage your girl’s natural curiosity about the world around them. After all, scientists and engineers are professional question-askers and problem-solvers!

Curiosity is crucial to the learning experience, and will lay the groundwork for honing key 21st-century skills in children, such as critical thinking, communication and creativity.

It’s equally important to let your little one know that you don’t have to have the answers to everything. After all, it’s all part of the fun to hypothesise, explore, and discover the world around you.

3. Encourage learning through activities

“It’s just a preference, my daughter doesn’t like science.”

Does this sound familiar? Time to debunk another misconception – scientific evidence indicates that these statements are actually shaped by cultural beliefs and not inherent preferences.

Parents need to consciously make it a point to encourage and provide opportunities for their daughters to engage in STEM-related activities. A rich and diverse environment that includes STEM programmes will allow your child to have the chance to truly decide where their interests lie.

There are many ways to promote STEM learning at home, or you could sign up for a STEM enrichment class for some fun, extracurricular lessons.

4. Highlight amazing women

People in STEM don’t often have the best media representation, often being portrayed one-dimensionally as being obsessive, geeky or eccentric, or being predominantly white and male.

Instead of perpetuating these false images, try highlighting powerful female STEM role models who have challenged the narrative in science and changed the world for better – in particular, groundbreaking women of colour, such as:

• Katherine Johnson, who helped Nasa send astronauts to the moon and return them safely home with her brilliant mathematical skills. She also overcame racial and gender hurdles that made giant leaps for humankind;
• Dr Chien Shiung Wu, a female Chinese-American nuclear physicist that made history with her discovery, and is widely known as the “First Lady of Physics”; and
• Malaysia’s own Dr Amalina Che Bakri, who holds the record for the most 1As scored in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia in the history of local education, and who actively uses her platform to raise awareness, counter misinformation, and educate the public on matters relating to medical health.

5. Employ STEM-centric resources

The next time you’re out at the toy store, make a conscious decision to choose STEM-related products for your daughter, niece, or that special little girl in your life.

Introducing books that celebrate women in science, and educational shows with female role models are great for reminding kids of the important positions women hold in STEM.

For mums with boys, these resources are for your sons, too! Raise your boys to be men who see women as their equally capable peers, both personally and professionally.

Click here to read the original article, which includes a list of terrific STEM-related books and programmes for children.

This article was written by Elaine Yeoh for makchic, a Malaysian-based online site for chic, curious, and spirited parents, and has been providing trustworthy and authentic family-related content since 2013. For diverse stories of parenthood that inform, support, and uplift all families, visit makchic.com and follow them on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.