At fifteen I sat in a room filled with over 100 female classmates. Each of us earned As in our math and science courses. Women from various STEM fields shared their journeys and tribulations: They said when it came to STEM, they were often the only woman in the room. I sat there puzzled. Who cares? I loved math and science. I was good at math and science and who surrounded me was irrelevant.
As a teacher I am regularly bombarded with programs and opportunities to “inspire girls in STEM.” The premise of this approach is entirely flawed. Girls don’t need inspiration, it’s already there. Have you ever met a 5 year old? They ask 400 questions a day! Humans are innately curious and that curiosity breeds inspiration. Our job as adults is not to inspire, but to nurture. The problem is not a lack of interest. The problem is systems that exclude…
