Math and science fields battle persistent gender gap – USATODAY.com: ...That's encouraging news for people who are concerned about a persistent gender gap in college degrees in science, technology, engineering and math —STEM, for short. The notion that it might have to do with aptitude has long been dismissed. Yet research shows that girls who enjoy — and excel at — math and science in high school are less likely than boys to pursue a college major in those fields.
And even if they start college majoring in a STEM field, women are more likely than men to change majors, federal data show. Women make up 24% of STEM jobs, which offers some of the most lucrative careers, a Commerce Department report says. More than half have degrees in the physical and life sciences.
The Obama administration has stressed the importance of plugging that leaky pipeline, arguing that expertise in science, technology, engineering and math is crucial to nation's global competitiveness.
