Lack of Encouragement a Barrier to Girls Pursuing a Career in Science and Math

Recent research findings from MasterCard found that out of the Canadians that considered a career in technology, only 18 per cent were women.

And for those that didn’t choose this career path, one third of women (29%) stated that it was because they didn’t think they had the skillset to get into it or weren’t encouraged (11%) to develop skills in science and math.

More than half of women surveyed (57%) expressed no interest in pursuing a job in the tech industry, which is a fast-growing industry in Canada offering higher salaries.

When asked what Canadians think are the major barriers for women to start a career in technology, one third of respondents (32%) agreed that girls are encouraged to pursue other fields.

Today MasterCard announced it is launching a national campaign to bring more girls and women into the tech field.

In partnership with Ladies Learning Code, the cross-country program will see more than 700 girls (ages 8-13) and their parents take a free, 6-hour introductory coding class, held simultaneously across the country on November 8th.

“The new school year brings unlimited possibilities for students and we’re excited to share our passion for technology with girls across the country,” said Betty DeVita, President, MasterCard Canada. “The reality is the tech field is still male dominated, but it’s important to bring more women in because they offer a different perspective on the development of technology. With this campaign, we want to inspire and engage girls early on by showing them the potential opportunities and giving them the tools they need to pursue a future in technology.”

Parents and young Canadians should visit ladieslearningcode.com/girlscodeday for more details.

Ladies Learning Code is also behind National Learn-to-Code Day which takes place on September 27, 2014.