Gender Gap in STEM Education

Abstract

Despite gender differences in education are closing, and women even outperform boys academically on average, girls are less likely than boys to choose the pathways through education that lead to the highest-paid professions, such as those at STEM fields. The review of literature shed some light on the factors that explain the existing gender gaps in different levels of education in STEM fields and analyses initiatives and policies designed and implemented to reduce the gender gaps. Overall, literature shows that personal motivations, decisions and engagement are influenced by the social context, in which schools play a key role as children socialize and make their first decisions in terms of subjects of interest within that environment. Thus, strategies developed at schools must include a gender glass to contribute to the reduction of the mentioned gaps. Along this chapter we analyse latest data in STEM education indicators to identify patterns in the evolution of gender gaps and we review the theoretical framework that literature uses to understand the causes of those gaps. The conclusions shed some light about the experiences and lines of action in the context of the future challenges in education and labour market.