Bringing More Girls to STEM: A Systematic Review of Brazilian Initiatives

This full research paper presents a systematic review of initiatives aimed at increasing the participation of girls in computer science (CS)-related courses in Brazil. Gender disparity in CS is a longstanding issue, and although various initiatives have been implemented to bridge the gender gap, men still represent the majority of CS graduates worldwide. In response to this challenge, Brazilian universities have developed and promoted projects to attract and support girls in male-dominated CS courses. These initiatives address several challenges by employing diverse strategies and targeting different age groups. Most focus on encouraging and retaining female undergraduate students in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) programs, while others introduce programming and technologyrelated activities to K-12 students. This study aims to map and analyze initiatives listed on the Brazilian Computer Society's Meninas Digitais platform, evaluating their teaching methods, outreach strategies, and content dissemination. A systematic review was conducted, analyzing over 173 registered projects up to January 7, 2025. Ten key criteria guided the analysis, including social media presence, project frequency, scientific publications, promoted content (e.g., programming languages), and target audience (K-12, undergraduate, or graduate students). Despite the variety of approaches, many projects lack clear documentation regarding their goals and public availability. Furthermore, the absence of CS education in Brazil's basic education system adds to the difficulty of attracting young female students to the field. The main contribution of this research is a critical review of Brazilian initiatives that aim to increase female participation in technology-related courses, providing insights into their scope, strategies, and limitations.