Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/271879 
Year of Publication: 
2023
Series/Report no.: 
CESifo Working Paper No. 10235
Publisher: 
Center for Economic Studies and ifo Institute (CESifo), Munich
Abstract: 
This paper evaluates the impact of "Coding Girls", an educational enrichment program designed to address the underrepresentation of women and girls in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in Italy by stimulating young female students' interest in programming and science and encouraging them to consider careers in STEM-related fields. Implemented in ten secondary schools in Turin (Italy) over the period 2019-2022, the Coding Girls program provided lab-based computer programming instruction as well as introductory talks on specific topics in STEM. The program was evaluated by randomized controlled trial. Our results show that Coding Girls had a significant and positive impact on male and female students' programming skills and on their awareness of gender differences in the workforce. However, it did not seem to affect girls' aspirations to pursue higher education in STEM-related disciplines. The gender stereotypes children are exposed to from a very young age tend to steer girls and young women to the humanities. This bias is deeply entrenched and difficult to modify.
Subjects: 
gender
STEM
higher educational choice
JEL: 
J16
I23
Document Type: 
Working Paper
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