Hong Kong group urges parents, teachers to work harder to close gender gap in STEM subjects
Call comes as study finds girls are generally not opting for such subjects due to unsupportive parents, education system
Parents, schools, businesses and the Hong Kong government must work harder to promote science and mathematics to girls to close the gender gap in education, a leading women’s campaign group has urged.
New research suggests gender stereotyping, the local education system and unsupportive parents continue to hinder girls’ chance of success in traditionally male-dominated job sectors.
The study commissioned by non-profit group the Women’s Foundation in Hong Kong (TWFHK), explores why girls are generally not opting for STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects, just as the world prepares to celebrate International Women’s Day on March 8.
It has found that despite claims by the Education Bureau that both female and male students are given equal opportunities, girls continue to be dissuaded from studying STEM subjects by parents and teachers.
The study’s participants – about 1,000 girls from 13 public schools – reported feeling that STEM subjects were “boring” and “dry”, with the exception of biology. This meant girls were consistently choosing to drop STEM subjects as they become optional at the Diploma of Secondary Education level, with only mathematics remaining compulsory.