In honor of Women's History Month, we celebrate the potential of young Black girls in STEM. While gender stereotypes can create barriers, parents can inspire their daughters through engaging in STEM activities like robotics and coding, fostering curiosity and confidence.

Corage Dolls recently spoke with Monique Wingard, a tech policy scholar and digital media consultant who has spent over 20 years reshaping the narrative for young Black girls in tech. She has promoted media and digital literacy, encouraging girls to explore diverse technology careers. 

Corage Dolls: How can parents effectively highlight and introduce their daughters to STEM fields, and why is this important for fostering interest in these areas?

Wingard: Encouragement starts with curiosity, not just results. Parents can create an environment where asking "why?" and "how?" is always welcome. Hands-on experiences like science kits, coding games, and simple experiments at home can spark a love for STEM. But beyond coding and engineering, there are countless ways to explore technology—digital marketing, technical writing, immersive media (AR/VR development), human-computer interaction (HCI), cybersecurity, digital forensics, product management, tech policy, and video game design.

Encourage engagement with building sets, robotics, and digital art while introducing content creation, website building, video editing, and data visualization. Utilize accessible free or low-cost tools like Canva, Notion, Figma, Unity, and Google Analytics—challenge gendered language by promoting a positive narrative around complex tasks, encouraging exploration and collaboration. Highlight successful women in STEM through various media to enhance representation. By broadening the perception of tech careers—from augmented reality to cybersecurity—parents can help their daughters appreciate the vast possibilities in the tech industry.

Corage Dolls: What common stereotypes do Black girls face regarding their abilities in STEM, and how can parents actively combat these perceptions to promote confidence and interest in these fields?

Wingard: Black girls often face the stereotype that they’re not “naturally” good at math or science, or that those fields aren’t “for them.” These messages come from everywhere—media, peers, even teachers. Parents can combat this by affirming their daughters’ intelligence early and often. Expose them to Black women who are thriving in STEM, correct any limiting beliefs when they arise, and make sure they have mentors who reinforce their potential. And don’t wait until they’re in high school! The earlier girls see themselves as capable and worthy in STEM, the more likely they are to stick with it.

One way to push back against these stereotypes is by surrounding girls with positive reinforcements. Find podcasts, documentaries, and local organizations that focus on youth leadership to help reaffirm their confidence. Consider reaching out to your local chamber of commerce or women’s business centers to connect with women-owned businesses that align with your daughter’s interests. This could lead to an internship, an informational interview, or simply serve as inspiration—showing her that the possibilities for her future in STEM are limitless.

Corage Dolls: What are effective strategies parents can use to select toys that promote gender-neutral play and foster engagement with STEM subjects for their daughters?

Wingard: Choose toys that promote problem-solving, creativity, and experimentation instead of reinforcing traditional gender roles. Great options include blocks, coding games, logic puzzles, robotics kits, and strategic video games. Be mindful of marketing—often, the best STEM toys aren’t packaged in pink but inspire kids to build, design, and think critically.

Corage Dolls: Can you provide examples of toy brands or play types that have challenged gender norms and inspired girls in STEM fields?

Wingard: Here are just a few, but there are many others.

• GoldieBlox offers engineering kits designed to inspire young girls through storytelling and problem-solving. 

• LittleBits provides electronic building blocks that make learning about circuits and technology hands-on and fun. 

• LEGO, particularly LEGO Education and LEGO Robotics, encourages creativity and STEM thinking without gendered barriers. You really can’t go wrong with the LEGO brand. It’s more than just a classic toy—it helps kids think creatively and solve problems.

• Osmo features interactive learning games that incorporate coding and problem-solving, while Turing Tumble is a mechanical computer game that teaches kids logic and coding concepts.

Corage Dolls: What resources do you recommend for parents with daughters who are interested in delving into STEM focus areas?

Wingard: Here are a few favorites:

• Futureland

• The National Coalition of 100 Black Women; Everyone Can Code 

• Mosaic Tech Movement 

• Black Girls Code 

• Girls Who Code 

• NASA’s STEM @ Home 

• SciGirls (PBS) 

• MIT Scratch

Parents can inspire young Black girls' passion for STEM by engaging in activities like watching educational YouTube channels and visiting science museums, fostering their curiosity through play and questions. 

Remember, representation is vital; when girls see themselves in STEM, it validates their potential and motivates them to pursue their interests. Let's keep the door open so that their interests can grow naturally.