Career Aspirations of Female STEM Students

The STEM gender gap is caused by the interaction of several complex and nuanced factors, all of which need to be considered when designing effective interventions. Providing students, parents and teachers with information about the broad range of career opportunities that STEM can offer is one of the factors frequently discussed in the literature. Addressing this information deficit is also identified as a specific action amongst the Recommendations on Gender Balance in STEM Education. The perception that STEM careers are not compatible with students’ desire to work with people or on areas of societal benefit is a commonly held misconception that deters female students from considering STEM pathways. Dispelling this stereotype should form a key emphasis for STEM promotion and information campaigns; particularly those targeted at younger teenagers. This paper presents an account of the career aspirations of undergraduate and postgraduate female STEM students. The research forms part of an ongoing PhD study focussing on the key factors influencing women who do choose STEM careers. The students interviewed (n = 21) are nearing the end of their programme of study in STEM and are considering future career paths. Many have undertaken work placements or internships and have experienced varied career opportunities. Thus, they offer a unique perspective on the interests, motivations and career goals of young women in STEM. This perspective is largely unheard in current discourse, and it is anticipated that their insights will be useful in designing promotion campaigns aimed at encouraging more female students to consider STEM as a personally fulfilling, rewarding, and exciting career.