When you think “Engineer”, then imagine young women like Debbie Sterling.
She is an engineer, who has made it her mission in life to tackle the gender gap in science, technology, engineering and math. She wants to help other young girls find the joy in being an engineer and using their creativity to build and make new things from their ideas.
Speaking at TEDxPSU in 2013, Debbie tells how she was encouraged to pursue a major in Engineering by a female high school teacher. She discovered while pursuing her degree at Stanford University that “engineering is really a boy’s club” and can be difficult for a woman to fit in. She wondered why there weren’t more women in her classes.
Only 20% of undergraduate degrees in engineering and tech and science are awarded to women and only 11% of engineers in the US are women. Using Kickstarter for funding Debbie produced a toy aimed at developing spacial skills of young girls and keeping them engaged with more choices than the “pink aisle” selection. GoldieBlox, toy company, has a goal to inspire the next generation of female engineers.
Engineers are making some of the biggest advances in our societyWith half the population being female, we deserve to have the female perspective. It will only get better with the female perspective.
GoldieBlox has a book series+construction set that engages kids to build through the story of Goldie, the girl inventor who solves problems by building simple machines. Debbie’s company has also branched into making mobile apps to help encourage young girls to learn programming skills. Girls needs more choices in toys than just dolls and being a princess. Girls can be a Princess and also an Engineer.
It’s a fun way for kids to learn how to invent creative stuff.
We believe that femininity is strong and girls will build the future — literally.
Debbie writes and illustrates Goldie’s stories, taking inspiration from her grandmother, one of the first female cartoonists and creator of “”Mr. Magoo.”
Toy Hackers is a show (on Youtube) about toys who build toys with the cartoon character, Goldie Blox. Described as “toy unboxing” met “DIY how-to-build” videos.
Additional resources:
Business Insider: Goldie Blox toy inspiring future engineers
Goldie Blox blog has women “Engineers in the Wild” giving examples to inspire girls with women role models