How and when Virtual Technologies Can Help Bridge the Sex and Gender Gap in STEM Careers: Some Considerations

Although the largest gender differences in cognitive abilities are in verbal and language skills, where there is a clear female advantage, this difference is not much talked about, and these skills are largely mastered throughout primary and secondary education. In spatial abilities, where boys tend to outperform girls, the opposite is true. Traditionally, spatial abilities have not been part of the school curriculum, although their importance is now widely discussed because of their relevance to STEM careers. Moreover, the gap between boys and girls in these abilities increases with age, a crucial stage being adolescence (where false beliefs, stereotypes, are so important and damaging). This huge deficiency during compulsory schooling, so detrimental to girls, needs to be remedied. The purpose of this article is to highlight this all too often neglected issue, calling for social action to ensure that women have the same opportunities and access to science and technology as men. The article includes concrete suggestions, appealing to the enormous possibilities of virtual technology, which could play an important role in this respect.