Teach First, STEMinsim Public Omni

Study among British adults in order to explore public perceptions around the main barriers that prevent girls from pursuing science subjects.

Three in five (59%) British adults say that girls are held back from pursuing science subjects after it’s compulsory for them to study these due to the lack of female role models in science subjects
Three in ten (29%) say that girls are held back due to not seeing themselves in science-related jobs, while a quarter (24%) say girls are less interested than boys in these subjects
Women are significantly more likely than men to say that girls are held back due to the lack of female role-models in science subjects (61% vs. 56% respectively)
Confidence is also more likely to be seen as a reason by women than men, with a quarter (26%) of women saying that girls are not confident in their ability to do well in science subjects, compared to less than one in five (16%) men who say the same
Opinions also vary based on age. Younger adults aged 18-34 are significantly more likely than their older counterparts to say that girls are held back due to the lack of female role-models in science subjects (63% vs. 56% 35-54 yrs. and 58% 55+ yrs.)
Just around half of British adults can name any female scientists

Date Published: 06/02/2020

Categories: Education | GB | Public and communities | Social

Client: Teach First

Methodology

Savanta ComRes interviewed 2,041 British adults aged 18+ online between 11th and 12th December 2019. Data were weighted to be nationally representative of all British adults by key demographics including age, gender, region and social grade. Savanta ComRes is a member of the British Polling council and abides by its rules.