How does gender impact girls’ and boys’ aspirations for STEM study and careers?

Parents, teachers and career advisors are the key influencers on young people’s future study and career. A new study reveals their views on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
19 May 2021
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Diversity in STEM
Science, technology and innovation
Decorative image with a girl in a school uniform working on a STEM project, with a background of icons and imagery symbolising STEM data

The latest issue of the STEM Equity Monitor includes data revealing what parents, teachers and career advisors think about STEM.

A new survey has revealed what parents, teachers and career advisors think about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

The STEM Equity Monitor collects and integrates data on girls’ and women’s participation in STEM, through schooling, higher education, graduation and the workforce.

In this year’s edition, the Monitor draws on data from a survey we commissioned to understand the early influences on girls’ perceptions and attitudes to STEM. This builds on YouthInsight’s 2019–20 Youth in STEM survey, which found that parents and teachers were the greatest influencer groups of young people’s education and career decisions.

To help provide these insights, YouthInsight surveyed almost 1,500 parents and 850 educators.

The 2021–20 STEM Influencer survey looked at parents’ attitudes to STEM subjects and careers and how often they talk with their kids about these topics. It also asked teachers and career advisers about their attitudes to STEM, and how confident they were teaching and advising on these topics. The responses highlighted how these adults viewed girls’ and boys’ capacity to engage in STEM subjects and careers.

While the majority of parents and educators saw STEM skills as important for getting a good job, they both perceived girls to be less confident than boys across all STEM subjects. This view was not necessarily shared by young people (12 to 17 years old) who responded to the previous year’s Youth in STEM survey.

Snapshot of 2020–21 results from parents, teachers and career advisers

Importance of STEM skills for getting a good job: for mothers 78% say science, 87% technology, 72% engineering, 90% maths; fathers 84% say science, 91% technology, 79% engineering, 87% maths; secondary STEM teacher women 91% say science, 96% technology, 72% engineering, 96% maths; secondary STEM teacher men 91% say science, 84% technology, 83% engineering, 96% maths. Parents perceptions of boys’ and girls’ confidence in STEM subjects: parents perceive girls are 9% more confident in science, 5% technology, 3% engineering, 11% maths; parents perceive boys are 24% more confident in science, 35% technology, 51% engineering, 23% maths. Educators perceive girls are 5% more confident in science, 3% technology, 2% engineering, 7% maths; educators perceive boys are 29% more confident in science, 40% technology, 61% engineering and 33% maths.



Snapshot of 2019-20 results from young people

Importance of STEM skills for getting a good job: girls say 72% science, 79% technology, 55% engineering, 79% maths; boys say 70% science, 78% technology, 68% engineering, 75% maths. Confidence in STEM subjects: girls say 62% in science, 56% technology, 33% engineering, 64% maths; boys say 61% in science, 70% technology, 55% engineering, 64% maths.

This year’s Monitor also delves into data on engaging Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls in STEM study and careers. YouthInsight interviewed educators about their experiences to explore any specific opportunities and challenges for this group.

Educators highlighted the importance of building confidence, greater visibility of STEM role models, and awareness of opportunities among all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. However, they felt this was more important for the girls. They also identified a range of approaches to help engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls in STEM education and opportunities for STEM-related careers.

You can explore the data and see more insights on interactive pages in the Monitor:

The Monitor and integrated data tells an evolving story. We will publish new data annually to allow us to see trends over 10 years.

We’re interested in your feedback. When you visit the Monitor please take a moment to tell us what you think in our short survey.

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Importance of STEM skills for getting a good job: for mothers 78% say science, 87% technology, 72% engineering, 90% maths; fathers 84% say science, 91% technology, 79% engineering, 87% maths; secondary STEM teacher women 91% say science, 96% technology, 72% engineering, 96% maths; secondary STEM teacher men 91% say science, 84% technology, 83% engineering, 96% maths. Parents perceptions of boys’ and girls’ confidence in STEM subjects: parents perceive girls are 9% more confident in science, 5% technology, 3% engineering, 11% maths; parents perceive boys are 24% more confident in science, 35% technology, 51% engineering, 23% maths. Educators perceive girls are 5% more confident in science, 3% technology, 2% engineering, 7% maths; educators perceive boys are 29% more confident in science, 40% technology, 61% engineering and 33% maths.