Why do men dominate the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math?

While the root of this issue begins with how girls are parented and the opportunities to which they are exposed at home, the problems continue in classrooms, school activities, and even in the workplace where they earn their livings.

We know that students often become exposed to computer science outside of the classroom. But while girls are avid users of technology, at this age they are less likely to participate in these activities.  Once they become teenagers, girls use computers and the Internet at rates similar to boys, but they are 5 times less likely to consider a technology-related career. 

To make matters worse, few countries make computer science part of the curriculum. 

At the university level, women make up less than a quarter of undergraduate computer science and information science degrees.  In the U.S. workforce, only 26% of computing occupations are held by women.

Sadly, after they work so hard to acquire these jobs, half of these women end up abandoning their training and working outside their field.  The reasons for this leaky pipeline include unsupportive work environments, a lack of role models, and sacrifices in their personal lives.