Why are so few girls choosing tech careers in Israel?

Selecting a high school pathway that combines mathematics, physics and computer science is the springboard to a career in technology. Despite the obvious financial and professional benefits, far too few girls are choosing this route — and the problem starts early. From kindergarten onwards, girls are steered towards dolls rather than robots, whilst schools fail to convey a message of female capability in STEM subjects. Education experts and schoolgirls who have defied the odds are now speaking out about what needs to change if more Israeli girls are to enter the technology sector. The barriers begin in childhood, with societal expectations and toy choices subtly directing girls away from science and engineering. By the time they reach secondary school, many have already lost interest in the technical subjects that lead to lucrative tech careers. Teachers and parents, education specialists argue, must actively challenge these gender stereotypes and demonstrate to girls that they are just as capable as boys in technology and science. Several girls who have pursued these subjects say they felt isolated and unsupported, with few female role models in their classes. Experts stress that without deliberate intervention from schools, families and the tech industry itself, the gender gap in Israeli technology will continue to widen, leaving the sector without the talent it desperately needs.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.