Even today, stereotypes strongly influence career paths. Girls are more often directed towards jobs related to care, education, or personal services, while future-oriented sectors like tech, digital, engineering, or construction remain predominantly male. Among the 82 job families identified by Insee, women are in the majority in only 12 of them.
To combat this self-censorship and broaden the range of possibilities, Capital Filles directly engages in high schools. The association organizes workshops that help young girls become aware of stereotypes, better identify their skills, and envision careers they may not have considered.
The second pillar of the program is based on mentoring. Each girl supported can be connected with a professional mentor from a partner company or the independent sector. This relationship allows for discussions about career choices, discovering new professions, and, most importantly, building confidence.
"What we try to do is show them what they don't know. A girl who discovers careers in cybersecurity, engineering, or digital can then consider a path she never imagined," emphasizes Laurence Beldowski.
The impact of the program is reflected in the trajectories: 93% of the mentees continue to higher education, and the association observes an increase in their ambitions regarding career choices.
Beyond individual paths, Capital Filles also supports companies in their diversity and inclusion challenges.
"These girls, coming from rather popular backgrounds in rural areas, will also aim for careers with responsibilities, and it’s also about telling them that they are the value of tomorrow's society," concludes Laurence Beldowski.
