Feminists outraged after a boy wins Girls in Tech competition

Date: February 28th, 2016 7:29 PM
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http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-35668358

EDF Energy has been criticised after a 13-year-old-boy won a competition that was part of a campaign to attract teenage girls to the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths.

Children were asked to think of ideas for a connected home bedroom product.

EDF said that while its Pretty Curious programme is still aimed at girls, the UK competition was later opened up to all 11 to 16-year-olds.

It continues to share the same website and branding as the girls' scheme.

The BBC understands that the decision had been made to open the competition up to both genders in the interests of fairness, and that the contest attracted "a couple of hundred" entries.

Following three events held in the UK for girls last year, the contest was extended online and made available to boys as well.

"EDF Energy have failed to understand both the nature of the problem [of women in Stem] and the negative impacts that their publicity stunt may well have on girls who took part with genuine enthusiasm and excitement."

(http://www.autoadmit.com/thread.php?thread_id=3146563&forum_id=2#29939176)