I would really like to continue my topic of women’s under-representation in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields for my persuasion paper. There are a lot of facts and studies that I would incorporate into the paper show the disproportionate growth of women entering these fields and the uncommon gender balance in STEM fields compared to all other fields. Because of the amount of statistics and facts necessary for this topic, I’m thinking of doing a report-style essay. Also, like we mentioned in class, journalism papers are most effective with a triggering event, but I think this civic issue is more of the persistent, always present, recurring issue that would be best addressed in a report.
I’m not sure exactly what policy for which I’d be persuading support. The troubling thing about this gender gap in STEM is that there are lots of programs and scholarships for women in science and engineering that should motivate more girls to enter the fields, but the ratio of men to women has remained dramatically disproportionate for decades with little improvement. After researching for my civic issue blog posts, I found that gender stereotypes can play a large role in undermining girls’ confidence in math and science classes and ultimately turn them off from the subject. Based on experience and the research I have conducted so far, the key to breaching the gender gap in STEM may have more to do with changing attitudes and social stereotypes than enticing women into STEM majors with support groups and “minority” scholarships.
Due to stereotypes’ significant impact on the small ratio of women in science and math, I am thinking to focus my advocacy project on motivating younger girls to pursue science and math majors. The way I see it, the gender imbalance is a problem starting in school. There are fewer women in STEM fields because there are fewer women with STEM degrees because there are fewer women pursuing STEM majors because….and here is where the issue lies. I think, therefore, that high schools need to advocate for girls to pursue these majors. As I mentioned in class, I went to an all girls’ high school, so, in theory, it should be easy to advocate math and science for the entire student body without boys (no offense) to create stereotypes or competition in those classes. Reflecting on my high school experience, it would have been nice to have STEM women speak at an assembly to get girls interested in science and math and serve as an inspiring example of successful women in STEM. For my advocacy I could write a letter to the administration with that and similar suggestions or talk to girls who are thinking about math and science majors about why I chose engineering and what to expect.
Rachel, I think you’ve good promise for this project using this topic seeing as how it appears to be something you’re very passionate about. However, I must say though that I feel that a journalistic approach would be more helpful. Maybe it’s just because I didn’t like the report Kyle made us read, but I hated that gov report and think that considering the lack of women in the gov (there’s currently only 20 female Senators in the US), a report style may not be most opportune. I agree that to bridge the STEM back, we need to start in early education, but I feel that you changing attitudes and social stereotypes is a difficult task that takes decades to show any effect, so please be wary of this approach.
I think this is a very good idea. You obviously know a lot about your topic so I think it would be easy for you to construct a report-style essay. Your advocacy idea is also very good. I think speaking to your high school would be a great form of advocacy.