There is no lack of negative stereotypes surrounding teenage girls: Even Former Secretary of State, John Kerry, likened all teenage girls to having insecurity problems. While teen girls often get stereotyped as moody, dramatic, or irritable, these stereotypical archetypes of what a teenage girl is does not represent the tremendous growth and amazing accomplishments they are making—particularly in the tech industry. Arecent studyby Microsoft and KRC Research revealed one of many reason girls have a hard time picturing themselves in STEM roles is due to a lack of female role models, and without positive female role models in these fields girls lose interest in STEM and computer science as time goes on.

In middle school, 31% of girls believe that jobs requiring coding and programming are “not for them.” In high school, that percentage jumps up to 40. By the time they’re in college, 58% of girls count themselves out of these jobs. But girls who know a woman in a STEM profession are substantially more likely to feel empowered when they engage in STEM activities than those who don’t.

So today we’re celebrating teen girls who are powerful role models, taking action and changing the world in incredibly positive ways using technology.  Here with me is Natalie Hampton, creator of the app Sit With Us, Amanda Southworth of Astra Labs, and rounding out the discussion is TEDxTeen curator and Executive Director of We Are Family, Jess Teutonico

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