As part of our ongoing work to tackle gender stereotypes we are very pleased to share that Education and Employers is a Supporting Organisation signatory on the Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter.
In our report Drawing the Future, 13,000 7-11-year olds in the UK were asked to draw what they wanted to be when they were older. 5.2% drew a job related to the aviation sector, selecting either working in the air force, being an airline pilot or an astronaut. Within that, 2.1% of boys drew that they wanted to be an airline pilot verses 0.5% of girls. This point is exemplified in the moving Redraw the Balance video.
The Women in Aviation and Aerospace Charter, which launched in 2018, is a pledge for gender balance and fairness across the sectors. Its signatory organisations commit to fostering diversity and inclusion in their work and demonstrating accountability, with opportunities for women to thrive at all levels including the highest positions.
It has over 100 signatories, including organisations from the aviation and aerospace industries and those in support of the initiative. With our passion for challenging gender stereotypes and encouraging children and young people to explore futures regardless of their gender identity, we are delighted to be a part of the initiative.
Our new support of the charter coincides with the 6th Annual Girls In Aviation Day, which took place on Saturday 26th September. On the day, the new Aviation for Girls app launched, giving girls internationally the chance to explore aviation – with exciting and informative content such as virtual museum tours, activities and career videos. Find out more about the day.
We now have a simple ask: we need many more people from the sector to talk to children and young people about their jobs and their career pathways – because you can’t be what you can’t see. Volunteers can register for free on our online database and then connect directly to teachers to be part of activities. With the new interactive virtual activities, this can be done effectively from wherever you are.