This article is one of the winning submissions from the New York Post Scholars Contest, presented by Command Education..
As the saying goes, any girl could tell you about the latest trends in fashion, movies and makeup products. But could she tell you about the latest trends in the stock market?
In the United States alone, according to The Conversation, there are three men for every woman majoring in economics. As of January 2024, the RePEc found that only 26.4% of registered economists around the world are women. Thus, leaving the remaining 73.6% as men.
It’s time to break the gender norms.
The underrepresentation of women working in economics is often mistakenly attributed to the lack of interest among women in the field. However, girls attending Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead, New York have proved this narrative completely false.
Last fall, Sacred Heart Academy was fortunate to introduce the “Rock the Street, Wall Street” program to our school, a financial and investment literacy program designed to spark the interest of high school girls exploring fields of finance. This was made possible through the involvement of previous Sacred Heart alumnae who majored in business and finance and came back to share their expertise in the field.
Students were engaged in fun activities to imitate managing finances in the real world. Among these activities, students created pretend budgets to meet the requisites necessary to maintain different lifestyles. Over the past ten years, the program has impacted 6,000 girls in high schools spanning 25 cities across the globe, and it has now expanded its reach to Long Island.
When asked about her experience attending the “Rock the Street, Wall Street” program, sophomore Gabriella L. states, “I learned so much about managing my money smartly, which is definitely helpful for when I have to begin managing my finances as an adult. The fact that the program was run by women who were alumnae from Sacred Heart created a positive and comfortable learning environment that encouraged me to consider pursuing my interest in finance and economics.”
Truly, positive learning environments empower girls to explore fields they might not have previously considered, especially due to a lack of confidence in their abilities. In a survey conducted by the American Economic Association, 9,000 men and women were surveyed concerning discrimination in their profession. To no surprise, “nearly half of women reported having been discriminated against based on sex, compared to 3% of men.”
When presenting research data to their peers, women are more likely to be patronized and belittled by men, leading them to feel marginalized, and further discouraged from attending social events. Consequently, the gender gap in economics leads to a lack of role models for young women seeking to find their place in the workforce. As a result, the importance of programs such as “Rock The Street, Wall Street” is stressed since they play a crucial role in fostering a sense of inclusivity for girls in a field that is seemingly dominated by men.
After six enriching weeks of the program, it was time for students to apply their acquired skills. On account of this, sophomore and freshman groups set out on a field trip to visit Molloy College on November 13. Upon their arrival, they were greeted with a delightful breakfast and engaged in an exciting buzzer game that quizzed them about business and stocks, creating a fun and competitive environment. Along with a tour of the campus, students were also offered the opportunity to join one of Molloy’s summer business programs, tailored for teenagers seeking to further their interest and education in the field.
Overall, the immersive program taught Sacred Heart students how to be financially responsible in their daily lives and empowered them to continue leading with heart, establishing a foundation of success in their future endeavors. With newfound confidence and skills, these girls are poised to break the glass ceiling and be pioneers for a more equitable future in finance and economics.
A 10th-grader at Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead NY, Fernandim dreams of being a screenwriter one day.
