Everyone can improve their numeracy, regardless of gender, but stereotypes suggesting women aren't naturally 'as good with numbers' still pervade.
Because low number confidence acts as a barrier to applying the skills that people have developed, this ‘number confidence gap’ affects many women’s lives . Our report The Confidence Gap: Women and Number Confidence showed that young women especially can have lower confidence when it comes to numeracy.
And there is still a bias towards men in terms of attainment when it comes to numeracy. This gap is bigger than with literacy in almost every country surveyed, with evidence suggesting stereotype and cultural bias are to blame. Where women have the opportunity, and are encouraged to believe they can improve, they can - and do - overcome this bias.
Here are just a few stories from inspirational women who have found their own path and achieved their goals after building their confidence with numbers.
From fear and nerves to becoming a Numeracy Champion: Kelly’s story
We spoke to Kelly about overcoming demotivation and disengagement, the benefits of facing learning as an adult on an apprenticeship, and why she now loves supporting others on their own journeys to number confidence.
