My little sister Katie is 12 years old. I love that she has the opportunity to pursue whatever she wants to be when she grows up, but I’m aware it isn’t always that simple. There are gender-based challenges that girls like Katie will inevitably face when it comes to equal opportunity, particularly in STEM fields.

When I was 12 I liked to take leadership roles. I was confident in my ability to guide a group towards a common goal, until a boy in my class called me “bossy.” Because I didn’t want to be made fun of for being a leader, I let him take over the project even though it was something I knew I could do better. Although many years have passed since then and I’m confident in my skills today, I’m occasionally reminded of that feeling.

READ FULL ARTICLE HERE