To honor International Day of the Girl, which takes place every year on Oct. 11, the LEGO Group has started a new campaign to encourage girls to stay curious about science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM) subjects and careers.
Statistics released by the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media and the LEGO Group revealed that girls are still discouraged from STEAM fields from a young age — when play is often gender stereotyped. One study statistic shows that 80% of boys are encouraged to code at a young age, compared with only 20% of girls. On top of that, when asked, kids as young as 6 think girls don’t like science.
To aid in the efforts to combat these misconceptions, LEGO is launching an online campaign called Let’s Keep Them Curious! that includes five STEAM-themed play activities that aim to inspire parents to nurture girls’ interests in the subjects.
“Closing the gender within STEAM careers starts with closing the gender gap within STEAM play,” says Ida Thyregod, team leader for strategic partnerships at the LEGO Foundation. “The LEGO Foundation believes that all children have the right to learn and play as a vehicle to unleash creative potential and build vital skills essential for the future workforce.”
Beyond STEAM activities, the LEGO Group has also committed itself to unlocking girls’ access to education opportunities. One of the first steps in this process was donating $120,000 to the Girls Opportunity Alliance, a program of the Obama Foundation, in support of the efforts to help adolescent girls and the leaders working to educate them.
To join in on the fun, girls can try the five STEAM play activities and brick challenges offered by the LEGO Group, including building a Mars Rover, crossing a bridge, or constructing a skyscraper, among others. Find the activities here.
