Girls should be encouraged to embrace subjects that open doors to traditionally male-dominated sectors, according to a new guide from the Government Equalities Office.

Your Daughter’s Future, developed with the help of girls aged 12 to 16, sets out what support girls want from their parents as they weigh up exam and career options. It offers parents information on which GCSEs and A-levels to consider for different careers and contains tips on organising workplace visits to gain experience, managing exam stress and boosting confidence, with tailored information for different ages.

The guide encourages parents to inspire their daughters with role models and case studies. “The most effective role models are ordinary people who you know in your day-to-day life – who your daughter can talk to and may aspire to be like,” says the guide, directing parents to websites such as Sciencegrrl and organisations such as the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

“We are working hard to encourage girls to embrace subjects that open doors to traditionally male-dominated sectors – and make sure they’ve got the knowledge and skills they need to succeed regardless of where they choose to work,” said Nicky Morgan, secretary of state for education and minister for women and equalities.

Women remain much more likely to work in sectors with already high levels of female employment, according to the Women’s Business Council. It found that 23.1% of women work in public administration, health or education, compared with 8.6% of men. By contrast, only 0.9% of women work in construction, (as against 6.1% of men) and only 2.6% of women work in manufacturing (7.1% of men), contributing to the gender pay gap.

The girls involved in developing the guide were clear that they wanted support from parents, so long as their own views were heard and respected. Parents also said they wanted to help, but did not always know how best to support their daughters.

One girl quoted in the guide said: “My dad doesn’t say much but when he does you know he’s really thought it through. He’s never told me what to do, but he did just say to me, ‘Have you thought about history?’ and left it at that. And you know, I hadn’t thought about history, but then I did, and now I’m planning to do history at university.”

This guide was developed by the Personal Social Health and Economic Education Association in conjunction with girls, parents and teachers from five schools, as well as Girl Guiding UK, Stylist magazine, the National Careers Council, and the Education and Employers Taskforce.

Ruby McGregor-Smith, chair of the Women’s Business Council, said: “Our research showed clearly that women are still predominantly going into traditionally female careers. This is underpinned by the choices girls make about school subjects.

“It is very important that girls make their career choices freely, without being hampered by stereotypes, so that they can take whichever route appeals to their interests and ambitions.”