Women in science group faces massive cuts

A charity that promotes women in science, engineering and technology is losing 80 per cent of its Government funding.

A charity that promotes women in science, engineering and technology is losing 80 per cent of its Government funding.

According to parliamentary written reports, the UK Resource Centre for women in science, engineering and technology will have its Government funding reduced from £2.4m to £500,000.

The news comes just after the UKRC issued a press release about the findings from the Girlguiding UK’s latest Girls Attitudes Survey of more than 1,200 7-21 year old girls.

A survey in 2009 showed the top career choice among girls was hairdresser or beautician, and few girls would consider a career in science or engineering. Girls were asked in this year’s survey why this is.

More than half said that hairdressing is what girls are interested in (57 per cent), while they veer away from engineering because of a lack of interest (51 per cent) and a lack of female role models (60 per cent). There is also a perception that not many girls or women do this kind of job (47 per cent), and that they don’t know enough about it (43 per cent). Almost half (53 per cent) of girls think science/engineering is too hard or complicated, 35 per cent say it would be difficult to get a job of this kind, and 22 per cent would be put off by the working environment.

Some (43 per cent) thought that girls opt for hairdressing because some jobs are more for girls, and 27 per cent feel that engineering loses out because some jobs are more for boys. Younger girls (11 to 16) are particularly likely to refer to girls’ or boys’ jobs, and girls’ interest, or lack of, in certain areas. Three in ten girls (30 per cent) think that worries about sexism in the workplace put girls off a career in science or engineering.

“The survey highlighted that the majority of girls still hold very traditional views about career choices” said the UKRC Director Jane Butcher. They reject engineering because there are no female role models, it is seen as too hard and complicated, and is just not interesting. One in three girls of secondary age thinks that some jobs are more for boys – which may deter them from taking the appropriate GCSEs and A levels to qualify for this career path. When it comes to preparing for a career, many girls feel that they are not getting enough advice about choosing the right GCSEs and A levels."

Girlguiding UK recommends that more and better work experience placements are needed to give girls the opportunity to begin to decide on careers, and to make them aware of career paths that they might not have considered.





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