Women remain underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, or STEM. In the field of engineering, for example, women earned fewer than 20 percent of doctorates in 2014.
Such gaps, however, are not the result of differences in intellectual ability. Girls currently make up over half of the United States? gifted student population. If girls have the smarts needed for success in STEM, then what factors explain why they don?t pursue education and careers in these fields"
There are two types of beliefs that discourage girls from pursuing STEM at an early age: negative stereotypes about their intellectual abilities, and stereotypes about the people who work in STEM careers as being ?nerdy? or socially awkward.
As researchers who study how stereotypes and other psychological factors can dissuade girls from pursuing careers in math and science, we believe that parents and educators can help turn things around and close the gender gaps in STEM. 1. Combat stereotypes about gender and intellect
As early as first grade, girls are less likely than boys to associate their own gender with intellectual ability. Given how pervasive these stereotypes are, how can parents and teachers step in and shield girls from the belief that they?re less intellectually capable?and therefore less suited to STEM?than boys"
Teach a growth mindset

One potential strategy is to help girls adopt a growth mindset, or the belief that their abilities can be developed as opposed to ...