As a parent , grandparent , or family supporter , could your choice of presents underneath the Christmas Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree pour down off girls ' interest in science , tech , and all things nerdy ? With science miniature being far more likely to be marketed towards boys , new research suggest it could , to damaging effect .
The study by theUK Institution of Engineering and Technology(IET ) found that only 11 percent of STEM ( Science , Technology , Engineering , and Maths ) toys were list as a girl ’s toy on search locomotive engine and toy retailer internet site , compare to 31 pct of STEM toys list only under " son " .
They also found that 89 percent of toy listed for girls are pink , compared to just 1 per centum for boy .
The main fear for the IET is this gender - preconception could put girl and young women off maintaining an pastime in science and picking it as a career due to deficiency of encouragement . After all , they found that only 7 percent of parents retrieve that technology would invoke to their daughter as a future career pick .
The statistics of cleaning woman presently in STEM job appears to adopt suit with this idea . The IET ’s 2016 Skills and Demand in Industry survey found that only 9 percentage of engineer the UK were women . However , other surveys suggest that 39 pct of elementary school - ripened young woman say they bask computing , 38 per centime pronounce they enjoy mathematics , and 36 percent enjoyed science .
“ The research shows miss clearly do have an interest in science , applied science and technology subjects at school so we need to discover ways to help oneself this to understand into a in high spirits bit of woman entering the industriousness , ” Mamta Singhal , toy engineer and IET voice , said ina statement .
She added : “ The marketing of toys for girl is a great property to start to change perceptions of the opportunities within engine room . The plaything alternative for missy should go beyond dolls and coiffe up so we can naturalize their enthusiasm and inhale them to acquire up to become locomotive engineer . ”
you may join the conversation about charwoman in STEM calling on Twitter with the hashtag#9PercentIsNotEnough .
If you recognize any kids who show a glimmer of pastime in scientific discipline ( regardless of gender ) and you ’re still stuck for Christmas present ideas , the IET commend you think about construct - your - own computer kit , robots , sci - fi figures , telescopes , microscope , chemical science kits , K’NEX , and LEGO .
You never know , if not , you could be depriving the world of the nextMarie Curie , Rosalind Franklin , orKatherine Johnson .
