Education

HELPING GIRLS AND WOMEN REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL. 

West Virginia women complete more educational degrees than men, yet make up less of the workforce and earn less at every occupational level. What’s at stake? Expectations of parents, teachers and society can influence girls’ educational and career decisions, but research shows that once college-educated women begin working in West Virginia, they are more likely than men to stay in West Virginia. 

• West Virginia ranks 51st in the nation for percentage of women who hold a Bachelor's Degree, at only 22%. 
• Barriers to career and technical education — including gender stereotypes, implicit bias, unequal treatment and sexual harassment — remain high.
• Less than 20% of bachelor’s degrees in computer science go to women, even though female graduates earn 60% of all bachelor’s degrees. 

Making a difference. 

Meet girls in their world. 

• Investigate opportunities to promote West Virginia “sheroes” to inspire others. 

Curb gender bias in the classroom. 

• Hold trainings on implicit bias in classrooms for current and future educators based on focus group and survey feedback. 

Get involved. 

To learn more about how to hold focus groups or coordinate professional development trainings, email wvforward@mail.wvu.edu.