Study: Young Women Don’t See Themselves as Inventive

The good news is that representation of US women and girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields has risen in recent decades; the bad news: American women ages 16-25 still don't think of themselves as inventive, despite possessing many of the traits necessary to become inventors. Such were the findings of the 2011 Lemelson-MIT Invention Index, published last week, which gauges Americans' perceptions about invention and innovation.

In numbers

• About 71 percent of young women surveyed indicated that they are creative, the characteristic they most associate with inventors (63 percent).
• Less than one in three (27 percent) described themselves as inventive.
• Two of every five female respondents (42 percent) rate math and science as their favorite subjects in school.
• Thirty-five percent of young women also say they have a family member working in a field related to science, technology, math or engineering.

In tables

What it means

Authors of the survey said in a press release, "The results reveal young women’s innate interest in inventive fields; however, recent statistics show while more women are entering college and obtaining degrees, less than ten percent earn them in technical majors such as computer and information sciences, engineering or math." This relatively small group underscores the importance of educating students, particularly women, about their post-grad options for employment in inventive careers.

Learn more about the Lemelson-MIT Program.