Women play many important roles in society.
But what about their contributions to STEM? STEM career fields involve science, technology, engineering, and math. These jobs are essential for advancements to be made in society. But are they also unwelcoming towards women? Indeed, the statistics of women in STEM are concerning. According to the Smithsonian Science Education Center: “Although women made up 57.2 percent of all professional workers in 2015, they comprised only 46.6 percent of science professionals, 24.7 percent of computer and math professionals, and 15.1 percent of engineering and architecture professionals.”
The question is, why? Why are these jobs so unpopular with women? One possible reason is discrimination within the workplace.
“Many women who try to come into these male dominated organizations may find themselves facing unfriendly environments and difficult work cultures. There are stereotypes in the workplace about women, especially in STEM fields” from research at Western Governors University (WGU).
Women may avoid these jobs if they feel antagonized by the other people working there. And if they aren’t treated like an equal, those who are pursuing STEM jobs may find it harder to make progress and get hired.
Sexism doesn’t just come from external sources, either. Its presence can be felt throughout many aspects of life, including women themselves, who may internalize the ideas that they aren’t as capable of success in STEM compared to men, and encourage these ideas among their friends.
All of this can lead to less women in the STEM workforce, which in itself can discourage other women from entering these fields, due to feeling alienated by the lack of people of the same gender. This reduces the amount of overall workers in STEM, slowing down progress in society.
So how should society go about solving these problems? While it may seem daunting, one can make a difference in their community by empowering women in their life. Try to debunk myths about the capabilities of women when one sees them.