At ʻIlima Intermediate, teacher Sarah Milianta-Laffin sees a stark difference between the boys and girls in her STEM and computer science classes. Boys are often more assertive and ready to lead labs and group projects, she said, while girls tend to shy away from taking charge.
Even as young teens, Milianta-Laffin said, her students are aware of gender stereotypes dictating that girls aren’t as strong in math and science as their male peers. And these assumptions have only worsened since the Covid-19 pandemic, she said.
“We’re going backward,” she said…