Are we fixing girls or fixing STEM? A critical look at girls’ STEM initiatives

Other - Blog post, 2026

In many educational policy and practice systems, ‘girls into STEM’ initiatives are presented as something undisputedly good. For example, coding clubs, scholarships and girls-only camps that aim to close gender gaps in certain areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). While increased opportunities for girls may be needed in particular STEM disciplines or certain societal demographics, a critical question is often overlooked: What assumptions are we making about girls, and about STEM itself, when we create these initiatives