By: Susana Asigre
Children learn by observing the world around them. Long before they understand careers or opportunities, they are shaped by the people they see every day and the environment they find themselves in. I remember as a child, I told my teacher I wanted to become a roadside rice vendor simply because I admired the woman my mother bought rice from for me. I didn’t know anything about business or career paths; I only saw and admired how she went about her business everyday and that was enough to influence what I imagined for myself. This is how powerful role models can be in a child’s life. Children my age then in more urban communities would probably have dreamt bigger, maybe they would have wanted to be medical doctors, pilots or lawyers, simply becausethey had exposure to individuals working in those fields around them.
In the same way, when girls see women actively thriving in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, it expands their sense of what is possible. Female role models help break the idea that STEM is “too hard” or “not for girls”. When girls encounter women like Professor Marian Ewurama Addy, Ghana’s first female professor of science, Professor Elsie Effah Kaufmann, the brilliant biomedical engineer known for her work in STEM education and Mrs. Patricia Obo-Nai, an electrical engineer and CEO of Telecel Ghana, it broadens their imagination. Their presence gives young learners confidence, showing them that success in these fields is achievable. Girls are more likely to explore STEM subjects, ask questions, and picture themselves in those careers when they see someone who looks like them, especially in their community or part of the world doing it.
Female role models are more than success stories; they are sources of inspirations that foster change. When young girls see women leading in STEM, it doesn’t just inspire dreams; it builds confidence, shapes career paths, and pushes them to dream big. By intentionally highlighting and supporting female role models, we help create a world where every girl can see herself as a scientist, engineer, innovator, or problem-solver.
