Does interest in science and mathematics differ by gender in high school?

According to a recent National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) report, Gender Differences in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Interest, the answer is yes.

While some research show gaps in male and female performance on STEM-related assessments have narrowed, other research continues to report gender differences in student interest in mathematics and science, as well as differences in student performance in mathematics and science, especially in math-intensive science fields.

The mathematics and science courses that females and males take in high school are similar, with the exception that females are less likely than males to study physics.

Despite large gains in educational attainment and labor force participation, significant differences persist between females and males, even at similar levels of education, the NCES report said.

Recently, two Two Western Connecticut State University students, Brittany Schappach (WCSU '18) and Sandra Zapata-Ramirez ( WCSU '18) presented their findings at a conference focused on the underrepresentation of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Here are some of the NCES findings they presented to Katina Koerting in "More women than men in life sciences but less in STEM."

National breakdown of women earning STEM degrees

59 percent of bachelor’s

57.3 percent of master’s

53.3 percent of doctorates

43 percent of bachelor’s

40.6 percent of master’s

27.9 percent of doctorates

38.5 percent of bachelor’s degrees

37.5 percent of master’s

34.3 percent of doctorates

18.7 percent of bachelor’s degrees

25.2 percent of master’s degrees

23.3 percent of doctorates

18 percent of bachelor’s degrees

30.4 percent of master’s degrees

22.5 percent of doctorates