Yes, there is a gender gap in math and science, with women being underrepresented in these fields compared to men. This gap starts in early education and continues throughout higher education and the workforce.
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Yes, there is a well-documented gender gap in math and science fields, which can be seen in educational, employment, and social contexts. According to a report by UNESCO, globally, less than 30% of researchers are women, and only around 3% of Nobel Prizes in science have been awarded to women.
The underrepresentation of women in math and science begins as early as primary school, where girls often do not receive the same encouragement or opportunities as boys in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. This imbalance continues through secondary school, where girls frequently choose fewer STEM subjects than boys, and then into higher education. In tertiary education, women are less likely to choose careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, and they are often underrepresented in research and leadership positions.
This gender gap can also be observed in the workforce, where women are less likely to be hired and promoted in science and technology fields, even with the same qualifications as men. According to a report by the United Nations, only 28% of science and technology workers are women, and the higher the level of seniority in these fields, the fewer women there are. In addition, women in math and science fields often face discrimination and a lack of support, making it more difficult for them to succeed.
As renowned physicist Marie Curie said, “We must believe in ourselves or no one else will believe in us; we must match our aspirations with the competence, courage, and determination to succeed.” Women must continue to push for equal representation and opportunities in math and science, and society as a whole must recognize the value that diverse perspectives and talents bring to these fields.
Here are some other interesting facts on the topic:
- In the 1970s and 80s, the gender gap in math and science was much larger than it is today. However, progress has been slow, and the gap still exists.
- Studies have shown that teachers often hold biases about which students are proficient in math and science, and this can contribute to the underrepresentation of girls in these fields.
- Women who do manage to pursue careers in math and science often face a “leaky pipeline,” where they are more likely to leave the field due to discrimination, inadequate support, and/or work-life balance challenges.
- Countries with more gender equality tend to have less of a gender gap in math and science. For example, in Iceland, there is virtually no gender gap in STEM subjects.
- Encouraging girls to participate in math and science competitions, mentorship from successful women in these fields, and flexible work policies can all help to reduce the gender gap in math and science.
Table:
| Statistical Area | Male participation percentage | Female participation percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Primary school | 53 | 47 |
| Secondary school | 58 | 42 |
| Higher education | 70 | 30 |
| Workforce | 72 | 28 |
See a video about the subject
The speaker in this video addresses the gender gap in mathematics and highlights how it impacts students of different genders.Stereotypes surrounding gender and mathematics, and a lack of recognition for female mathematicians are cited as factors in the perceived difference in confidence and performance between genders. The speaker emphasizes the need to eliminate gender biases in teaching to ensure all students have an equal opportunity to excel in mathematics.They also discuss a study that suggests girls in classes taught by highly math-anxious teachers performed worse in math, possibly due to accepting stereotypes about gender and math, yet maintaining a positive attitude towards math can help girls perform well regardless of their teacher’s attitudes. The speaker argues that solving the problem of girls being held back in math needs to be addressed on a societal level with the belief in gender equality in math being held by all teachers and students.
Many additional responses to your query
In 2023, the gender gap in STEM remains significant, with women making up only 28% of the STEM workforce. If we look at places worldwide where we might hope to find better news, the statistics give us pause.
The gender gap in math and science isn’t going away. Women remain less likely to enroll in math-heavy fields of study and pursue math-heavy careers. This pattern persists despite major studies finding no meaningful differences in mathematics performance among girls and boys.
The gender gap in math and science isn’t going away. Women remain less likely to enroll in math-heavy fields of study and pursue math-heavy careers. This pattern persists despite major studies finding no meaningful differences in mathematics performance among girls and boys.
Although the gender gap in math course-taking and performance has narrowed in recent decades, females continue to be underrepresented in math-intensive fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).
Women make up only 28% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and men vastly outnumber women majoring in most STEM fields in college. The gender gaps are particularly high in some of the fastest-growing and highest-paid jobs of the future, like computer science and engineering.
Gender gaps in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) college majors receive considerable attention, and it is increasingly recognized that not all STEM majors are equal in terms of gender disparities (1 – 4).
A gender gap has been found in mathematics (boys outperform girls) that has prevailed across countries for many decades. Whether this gap results from nature or nurture has been hotly debated.
Although the gender gap has narrowed over the years, boys continue to outperform girls on standardized tests of math and science achievement. At the same time, girls’ attitudes about math and science have become more negative. Many girls feel that they are not good at math and science and say that they do not like these subjects.
Still, women continue to be underrepresented in math, science and engineering-related careers, and there’s evidence that girls can lose ground in math under certain circumstances.
Gender differences in mathematics and science achievement have been reported in the literature across many decades (Hedges and Nowell 1995; Maccoby and Jacklin 1974).
The UNESCO Science Report 2021 found that women are still under-represented in fields such as computing, digital information technology, engineering, mathematics and physics.
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