Female representation in many STEM fields have drastically increased over the past century. In order to continue the growth we are seeing right now, and prevent it from going back to the way it was, it is important to understand why there was such a disparity between men and women in the STEM fields in the first place, and what change occurred that encouraged more women to join the STEM field.
One of the most destructive ideas in the education system in the early 1900s was the belief that boys had the so-called “math brain,” and that girls had the “verbal skills” brain. Educators believed that boys had something fundamentally different about them that gave them an advantage to understand math and science better than girls ever could, because girls did not have the “math brain”. To no surprise, research now shows that there are no innate cognitive biological differences between men and women that pertain to their ability to perform math better than the other. Due to a lack of support and encouragement, many girls lost confidence in math and science as early as the third grade. Boys, on the other hand, were more likely to say they are strong in math by 2nd grade, before any performance differences are evident. In fact, a comparison of high school GPAs and credits relating to calculus, physics, and engineering related topics show girls performing at a higher level than that of their male counterparts .
Another reason that many women did not want to join the STEM field was because of the male dominated workplace (which still exists to a lesser degree) that perpetuated exclusionary workplace practices. Women also found themselves in a never ending scenario of having to choose between being perceived as likable and therefore being more likely to be included in workplace decisions, or being perceived as a driven and ambitious worker, and therefore being excluded from workplace decisions. Since both likeability and competence are needed for success in the workplace, women found it extremely hard to thrive in a male dominated workplace.
Some changes that that encouraged more women to join the STEM field were the formation of all girls clubs related to STEM fields which helped encourage girls to explore their interest in STEM related activities in a setting outside of the classroom. The most crucial advantage from all girls STEM clubs is that they also provide girls with older mentors which in turn provides them with a support system and someone they can talk about similar problems they face in the field. The mentor/ mentee relationship is something that was not available to young women in the early 1900s, as many women were not in the field. Mentors who have experience being in a male dominated workplace or facing obstacles related to being a woman in STEM can help guide younger women and show them that they are not alone in the struggles that they are facing. An increase in similar clubs at middle schools and high schools across the country would encourage more women to join the field and reverse the decrease in women joining the computing and engineering field. Another reason for the growth of women in the STEM field are because of Women in STEM programs started by established STEM companies that encourage more women to join the field or retrain to get back in the field. For example the “Amazon Amplify” and IBM’s Tech Re-Entry Programme have helped fund women’s education in STEM related fields and help women who have taken a career break get the chance to retrain for AI and data science roles. Unlike in the 20th century, women who choose to take a sabbatical or a career break for personal reasons now have the chance to acquire the necessary skills and techniques to reenter the field.
The increase in women joining the STEM field is very important for many different reasons. Looking at it from a financially beneficial point of view, according to a recent study conducted by WISE in partnership with Amazon showed that just a 10% increase of women in STEM careers could boost the UK’s economy by £3 billion. Giving women an equal opportunity to thrive in STEM fields would also help to narrow the gender pay gap, increase their economic security, and bring about a diverse and unbiased workplace. Looking through lenses of advancement for the future, the increase of women joining the stem field can lead to much more innovation from a new perspective leading to an overall betterment of the world.
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I found your blog extremely interesting to read about, especially being a STEM major myself. I must admit that I oftentimes don’t really think about the struggles that women have in STEM. It is sad to me to hear you talk about things that they have trouble with which I feel should no longer be a problem in our day and age. For example, the studies you mentioned about being “math-brained” seem like common sense to me, and yet so many men would likely argue that those studies must be wrong. I would love to see everyone, no matter who they are, be able to find the same passion for and success in STEM that I have. I am glad to hear that it does seem to be getting better and hope that it continues to do so.
Hi Radhika,
As a woman working to enter the STEM field, this post immeadiately resonated with me. I liked how you went back and explained the history of the issue, because it provides really important context for where we are today and how we got here. It’s crazy to think STEM is still stereotyped as a male profession despite the number of women entering the field. My honors chemistry professer last semester mention that for the past eight years, the class had been majority female. So it’s possible that one day STEM may even be a female dominated field!
I really like this topic you’re exploring! You explain the benefits of women joining STEM fields through information and data as well as more abstract ideas such as the relationships that can be formed within it. Explaining the background or the history of this topic is also so interesting, since a lot of this history is still changing and being made. Overall I really like the layout of this blog post, and the presentation of your information is easy to read while simultaneously intriguing!