Whether you agree with new age feminism or not, you know there's an elephant in the room as far as college majors and careers go for women. There is definitely an unspoken separation between being a well-mannered lady and being a smart woman.
Debbie Sterling has an excellent Ted Talk called "Inspiring the Next Generation of Female Engineers." She begins by having the audience close their eyes and picture an engineer. Some people imagine a nerdy guy in an office, some imagine a guy in a hoodie, and some imagine a train conductor. No one imagines a woman.
In 2017 the Office of the Chief Economist reported that in 2015 women made up only 24 percent of STEM careers. What is making women in this day and age continue to choose careers like teaching or artistry? With as much girl power surrounding us nowadays, one would think that women would have more confidence in their scientific endeavors, but we don't.
Little girls are given ballerina skirts, while little boys are given plastic tool boxes. The parental focus nowadays says to let boys play with ballerina skirts and girls have the tool boxes. And I'm saying that it's okay for them to play with both. A girl shouldn't be told that she can only be a princess or else if she plays with tools and Legos that she's a tomboy.
When I started considering my college major, I wanted to do engineering. My dad did. My sister tried but ultimately changed her major. I didn't know a single girl interested in math and science unless it was in the interest of being a vet. I was discouraged.
My perspective didn't change until I met a girl at work who wanted to go into the makeup industry. I thought she was just another girl going into cosmetology school, but then she said something amazing. She was majoring in cosmetic chemistry in school in order to combine her two favorite things: makeup and science. It was as if I had learned that unicorns actually exist. She was the embodiment of being a smart princess.
Do whatever you want to do. So what if it's a boys world right now? Enjoy your glitter pens, your makeup, and your love for fluffy things. Just know that isn't what defines you or any of your decisions. Major in computer systems and take notes in rose gold pen. Become an architect and show up to job sites in a hard hat and heels. Be an engineer and sign airworthiness papers with a heart over the I in your name. You can do it, Princess. You can do anything you want.