Barbie Is Going to Teach Young Girls to Code
February 21, 2018
By: Samantha Ann Schwartz
Source: CIO Dive
Dive Brief:
- Toy company Mattel has partnered with Tynker, a computing platform, to bring coding to 10 million children internationally by 2020, according to a company announcement. The companies plan to introduce seven Barbie coding lessons to inspire young girls to look at careers as a pet vet, astronaut or robotics engineer.
Dive Insight:
Female representation in the technical workforce is dismal, particularly in cybersecurity. A mere 11% of the cybersecurity workforce is women, and companies like Mattel and Tynker are taking notice.
Exposing young children to a skill that is rapidly growing is pertinent to maintaining a healthy future workforce. Finding the right kind of leverage, whether it be through Girl Scout badges or Barbie, is also critical.