How Canada is Rewriting the Narrative for Girls in Science

Both gender and science are social constructs shaped by history, culture and institutions. How societies understand who belongs in science and under what conditions shapes access to education and long-term career outcomes. Restrictive gender norms in many regions of the Global South intersect with limited education infrastructure, creating significant barriers for girls’ participation in science. And while countries like Canada and other parts of the Global North have better access to education and stronger gender equality, social expectations still influence STEM pathways for women and girls. From an early age, girls are encouraged to pursue feminine-coded traits and roles, while boys are steered toward masculine ones, including science and technology. These patterns shape both aspirations and outcomes in STEM fields.

Moreover, gender equality and scientific development are closely linked. For example, scientific and technological innovations have played a critical role in reshaping gender relations by reducing the burden of unpaid care and domestic work and expanding access to education, particularly at the postsecondary level. Globally, women now outnumber men in several higher education programs, reflecting their strong academic performance and higher completion rates. In some contexts, these trends are also influenced by higher dropout rates among boys due to socio-economic pressures and gendered expectations around early entry into the labour market.

Achievement does not guarantee participation

Strong academic achievement does not consistently translate into long-term participation in STEM education or careers. Under Sustainable Development Goals 4 (Quality Education) and 5 (Gender Equality), states are responsible for dismantling gender stereotypes and ensuring equitable opportunities for all. However, many countries, including Canada, still struggle to achieve gender parity in STEM fields.

For example, research on Canadian post-secondary institutions shows that men are slightly more likely than women (72 per cent vs. 66 per cent) to remain in a STEM program, largely because women are more likely to transfer to non-STEM fields. Moreover, among STEM graduates in Canada, men are more likely to enter and remain in STEM occupations, while women often transition into non-STEM roles over time. Although these patterns are shaped by intersecting factors such as age, socio-economic status, residential location and ethnic or religious marginalization, parental employment and gender dynamics within families appear to play a particularly influential role. Specifically, women who had a mother employed in a STEM field were significantly more likely to pursue and persist in STEM careers.

Public investment and targeted initiatives

The government of Canada recognizes the growing demand for STEM skills in an economy increasingly driven by innovation and technological change. In response, the federal government, in collaboration with provincial and territorial partners, has introduced several programs to increase public interest in STEM education and careers, with particular focus on underrepresented groups such as women and Indigenous communities. Many of these initiatives are free or available at a nominal cost.

Programs such as CanCode support underrepresented youth, especially girls, by providing training in coding, digital literacy, and artificial intelligence, while also offering professional development opportunities for educators. However, gaps in gender-disaggregated data, particularly for teachers, raise concerns about equitable access to training, especially given the unequal distribution of unpaid care work.

Choose Science complements these efforts through national digital campaigns like #ChooseScience, offers free learning and motivational resources, and highlights successful women in STEM to counter persistent gender stereotypes.

The Citizen Science Portal promotes inclusion by giving the public opportunities to connect with scientists and participate in their research.

PromoScience provides funding to organizations and postsecondary institutions working to increase awareness of science and engineering, including initiatives specifically focused on girls and women, such as the Canadian Association for Girls in Science, Esteem Women Inc., the Society for Canadian Women in Science and Technology and the University of Alberta’s WISEST program.

Beyond government-led initiatives, national charities and non-profit organizations, including Actua, Let’s Talk Science and the Science and Technology Awareness Network, deliver STEM learning opportunities through camps, workshops, clubs, teacher training and community outreach, often at low or no cost.

There are also several STEM education-to-employment pathways for women and girls available through Mitacs, the Youth Employment and Skills Strategy, STEM competitions and the Digital Citizen Initiative, which facilitate skills development, work-integrated learning and employer engagement. Lastly, complementary programs like HackerGal specifically target women and other underrepresented groups, offering digital skills training and labour market connections.

Moving from access to inclusion

Achieving gender equality in STEM requires that we not only increase participation but also dismantle the structural and societal barriers that continue to shape educational and career trajectories. Gender stereotypes, exclusionary workplace cultures, unequal access to professional networks and the disproportionate burden of caregiving responsibilities all contribute to the leaky pipeline phenomenon. These challenges point not to individual shortcomings but to systemic issues that require coordinated, long-term responses across government, educational institutions and the broader scientific community.

On 11 February, we mark the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, an observance that acknowledges both the progress made and the work that remains.

For opportunities to learn, connect and be inspired by women in STEM, consider attending the 2026 Celebrating the Success of Women in STEM Symposium: Breaking Barriers, Building our Future, a virtual event focused on leadership, equity and innovation in STEM, or the free virtual panel Moving the Needle: Women at the Forefront of Science 2026, featuring physicians and entrepreneurs discussing healthcare innovation.

Edited by Aleksandar Cimeša

Image credit: DC Studio