According to an article published by the Daily Herald, a report generated by STEMConnector reveals that "nearly 40 percent of high school boys express an interest in STEM education, compared to just 14.5 percent of girls. The gender gap, according to the report, is widening even as the number of jobs in science and engineering is expected to grow." This is illustrated by the Academy of Science, Engineering, and Technology at Bartlett High School. The article cites that, out of 88 freshmen entering the program, only 25 are female.

The major concern with this gender gap is that women are going to be at a disadvantage in the job market, according to professionals at the Canadian Center of Science and Education. With jobs increasing in the STEM fields, the disappointingly low number of women who are training for these jobs indicates that the women who will be entering the workforce in the next 10 or so years will not be prepared for the jobs that are available.

The problem, though, lies in pinpointing why this gender gap has occurred. A representative from the CCSE states, "Traditional gender roles are certainly at least partially to blame. Traditionally, men went out and worked while women stayed home with the kids. As such, men were more likely to invest in the extensive education that a job like one in the STEM fields would require, while women might finish high school or a basic college degree and then focus on the family. Although women have certainly worked to break the mold and engage in educational programs that interest them, rather than those associated with the typical female role in society, the attitudes that support traditional gender roles are a lot stronger than some people might expect."

The CCSE encourages schools to start young when introducing students to the STEM fields, as those who develop a passion for them during elementary school may be more likely to pursue their interests than those who have already been indoctrinated with social stereotypes. Additionally, it is important that schools make programs accessible to both male and female students and that they treat these students equally in the learning environment.

The Canadian Center of Science and Education looks forward to seeing how academic institutions will address this gender gap and work to improve the ratio of males and females in STEM programs.

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The Canadian Center of Science and Education (CCSE) is a for-profit, private organization that strives to support educators and researchers on an international basis. The CCSE achieves this through financial support of research initiatives, educational programs for students, and scholarly publications. These initiatives allow the professionals at the CCSE to facilitate the sharing of information that leads to further discovery and assists researchers in better understanding the world through the lens of over 40 subject areas.