I can accept that many girls are not aspiring to certain careers because they can't see many women in those careers. Gender-based group identity does seem to be stronger in most girls and women than most boys and men.

Of course this is self-perpetuating. If no girls pursue a career then there will be no women in that career to inspire the next generations.

The question then becomes what to do about it. I see two options.

1. Affirmative action: Take every willing woman and put them into a high-profile position in the industry.

This means you have to set the bar lower for women than for men and, in these high profile positions it will look to everyone that men are significantly better at the job (because the men in those high-profile positions will have to compete to get there.

Will that really make girls believe they are suited to those careers?

1. Teach girls to develop stronger identities as individuals.

Unfortunately this is in direct contradiction to a great deal of modern gender activism.

I still prefer option 2.