Originally Posted by Dude
Originally Posted by Bostonian
I don't think government programs should exclude males or females unless there is a strong rationale.

There is a shortage of qualified STEM workers in this country, and addressing that shortage is important to our future economy and national security. Women happen to be underrepresented in STEM, and also happen to make up over half the population. Boys have more than enough role models and mentors available if they want to pursue STEM fields. Girls have Marie Curie and... ?

The rationale of making female mentors available to girls is plenty strong.

Show me STEM mentors that are accepting boys and turning away girls. I've never heard of such a program. It seems to me that every mentor available to a boy is also available to a girl. Thus your comment that boys have more than enough mentors while girls don't is highly suspect.

I would say that the rationale for making STEM mentors available to our youth is plenty strong. The rationale for making mentors available to select youth groups is flawed.