6 Ways to Celebrate Women + Girls in STEM All Year Long

On February 11th of every year, we celebrate International Day of Women + Girls in Science, an event that honors women + girls who have made their mark on science through their “out of this world” (I couldn’t resist!) contributions in STEM-related fields.

The day is also a call to ACTION. The fact of the matter is we need more women + girls in STEM. And as the fastest-growing job sector, STEM needs them. What we know is women + girls are systematically tracked out of following STEM pathways throughout their education, which limits their ability to join these fields as adults. Men vastly outnumber women in the STEM workforce. The American Association of University Women (AAUW) has more on women in STEM and the STEM gap, if you’d like to learn more. The reality is in order to achieve true gender equality in science, technology, engineering, and math, we need to empower women + girls to think big + dream big. Because we know what happens when they do.

So what are some ways that we can encourage the women + girls in our lives to pursue their passion in STEM like the trailblazers we honor today? Here’s a quick list of ways to not only celebrate International Day of Women + Girls in Science but also recognize the amazing accomplishments of phenomenal female figures all year long.

6 Ways to Celebrate Women + Girls in STEM All Year Long

1. Bring the boys + men on board. Wait. You must be thinking, I thought this blog post was about women + girls in STEM? Don’t worry, it is. But let’s face it, girls aren’t the only ones that need to get used to the idea that the future is female. Boys + men need to grow more comfortable with the concept of girls + women filling these male-dominated spaces too. Gender equality isn’t just a battle that women + girls have to fight. Women + girls already play a significant role in the STEM force, and they will continue to shatter glass ceilings in science, technology, engineering, and math, yet they aren’t celebrated enough. If we’re going to achieve gender equality, we’re going to have to take the “guys” with us.
2. Read STEM stories about famous female figures + firsts. Children’s books are a great way to learn about extraordinary women doing extraordinary things! Check out this list of 12 Inspiring STEM Books for Girls by Edutopia for starters. If you are looking for a more comprehensive list, look no further than 60 Children’s Books to Inspire Science-Loving Mighty Girls by A Mighty Girl Blog. One of my personal favorites is a bedtime book gifted by my sister to my eldest daughter called Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls by Elena Favilli + Francesca Cavallo. This beautifully illustrated New York Times Bestseller is a must-have for your at-home book nook and/or classroom collection!
3. Watch SHEroes + STEM stars on the big screen. There is something about seeing the impossible become possible. For the girls in your life to see female forces like them accomplishing amazing feats in science + math is one way for them to dream it, letting them know that they too can accomplish unimaginable things. I highly recommend TV shows like “Odd Squad” by PBS Kids, “Emily’s Wonder Lab” on Netflix, and “The Magic School Bus” on Netflix as well as films like Hidden Figures now on Disney+.
4. Highlight the achievements of historic female trailblazers + modern ones too. Celebrate the incredible discoveries + stories of STEM women past + present. Go back in time to learn about women who changed history by defying the odds. Explore current contributions made by women in STEM to education + research. By honoring the achievements of women then and now, we make these awe-inspiring women relevant.
5. Recognize the diversity of talent. As we know, representation matters! Women play a key role in various STEM-related fields, from computer science to environmentalism. Make sure you’re sharing many remarkable stories of women who’ve made a difference across many different fields of STEM in many different countries across the globe. In other words, diversity the narrative!
6. Encourage the women + girls in your life to chase their STEM dreams! Nudge budding “STEM-ers” in the direction of their dreams. What does this mean? It means supporting young women who show a passion for STEM. It also means helping them persist when things get difficult. What does this look like? One way to make a difference is by encouraging girls of all ages to pursue opportunities that will allow them to explore STEM. By starting young and getting involved in programs by organizations like Girls Who Code and STEM Like a Girl, girls will have an edge to landing the STEM career of their dreams. Know any girls or women that are already on the STEM scene? Find out if they’d be interested in mentorship. At the very least, you can interview them, amplify their voices, share their stories, and connect them with the aspiring STEM stars in your life!

As parents + educators, in particular, we can have a significant impact on the trajectory of our girls’ lives. The responsibility is ours to educate + empower. At the end of the day (no pun intended), International Day of Women and Girls in Science is an occasion to celebrate! But one day isn’t going to cut it. Let us be inspired by the countless women who have charted the course before us, and let those examples fuel us forward as we recognize + applaud the significant achievements of women + girls all over the world every day of the year.