Gender stereotypes have a big effect on what young people hope to achieve. They impact their school choices, job dreams, and how they see themselves.

Educational Aspirations

1. Subject Choice:

   • A report from the Institute of Physics says that in 2021, only 21% of students taking physics were girls.
   • Meanwhile, boys are often encouraged to study STEM subjects, which include Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. As a result, these areas tend to have more boys than girls.

2. Academic Performance:

   • The Gender Equality Advisory Council found that girls usually do better than boys in school in most subjects.
   • However, many girls don’t recognize their own skills and potential, which can hold them back.

Career Choices

1. Career Aspirations:

   • A study by the UK Commission for Employment and Skills showed that only 11% of girls want to work in technology, while 32% of boys have this dream.
   • Additionally, only 16% of workers in the UK’s STEM fields are women, showing the lasting effects of gender stereotypes on job choices.

2. Gender Pay Gap:

   • According to the Office for National Statistics, young women earn 20% less than young men, even before they start working full-time.

Psychological Impact

• Gender stereotypes can hurt how kids feel about themselves and their ambitions.
  • A survey by Girlguiding UK revealed that 60% of girls aged 11-21 feel pressure from society when making career choices.

In short, gender stereotypes create unfair situations that limit young people's hopes and dreams in school and jobs. They affect the opportunities available to them and how they see themselves in the future.