Did you know?
Women are typically given smaller research grants than their male colleagues and, while they represent 33.3% of all researchers, only 12% of members of national science academies are women. In cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, only one in five professionals (22%) is a woman. Despite a shortage of skills in most of the technological fields driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution, women still account for only 28% of engineering graduates and 40% of graduates in computer science and informatics. Female researchers tend to have shorter, less well-paid careers. Their work is underrepresented in high-profile journals, and they are often passed over for promotion. (Source: United Nations)
The world needs more women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); our future depends on it.
February 11 is recognized as International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The day raises awareness of the gender disparity in STEM while recognizing and celebrating pioneering Women in STEM. This article seeks to do just that.
On December 20, 2013, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to give recognition to the fact that the inclusion of women and girls of all ages, in science and technology innovation, is imperative for achieving gender equality as well as the empowerment of women and girls.
Despite tremendous global recognition of the importance of the inclusion and empowerment of women and girls, particularly in STEM, we still have much more to do. Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics have traditionally been, and are, areas considered ‘masculine’ disciplines. This negative stereotype is often reinforced in early childhood – boys are exposed to math and science, and girls are exposed to humanities and the arts. This stereotype pervades the home, early childhood institutions, high schools, tertiary education, and, ultimately, the workforce. Consequently, the workforce in these disciplines is dominated by men. Not only are these disciplines traditionally pursued by men, there exists a vast wage gap between the income earned by men and women who pursue these disciplines in their occupations, with men earning significantly more than their female counterparts. Yes, there has been a significant increase in women graduates with degrees in STEM disciplines, but enrollment specifically in the areas of computer science, engineering, and physics remains low.
Additionally, the increase in women graduates in STEM disciplines does not translate into an increase in women in STEM fields or the income earned by women. Women in STEM are also less likely to be admitted to academia than men, and ethnic minorities are even further underrepresented in STEM fields.
Another barrier that Women in STEM face is inadequate policies and facilities that support a healthy work-life balance. This reality remains stark in the Caribbean. While there are more women in the workforce now more than ever before, women are often still the primary caregivers in their families, which hinder growth and promotion opportunities in demanding STEM disciplines. This often leads to Women in STEM exiting promising careers earlier and at a greater rate than men. It also perpetuates unconscious bias against female STEM graduates.
Research conducted by women in STEM disciplines receive less uptake than that of their male counterparts. In this regard, women may be considered a ‘minority’ although they make up 50% of the world’s population and the workforce. Research tells us that the unique experiences of ‘minorities’ often lead to novel and innovative ideas and discoveries; diversity provides fertile ground for innovation. Minorities are inherently compelled to think outside of boxes that were not constructed for them. The experiences of ‘minorities’ are not accounted for in mainstream research and so inevitably do not solve pressing issues that plague these ‘minorities’. To illustrate this, when the first set of airbags were manufactured, the male physique was the only one considered in the design and testing of the safety device; needless to say this led to many avoidable deaths of women and children.
It is difficult for women to enter into the STEM workforce, and this difficulty is further compounded by even more gender disparities within the core STEM disciplines. Women make up the vast majority of the workforce in health, life, and the social sciences, while men continue to be disproportionately represented in the core STEM disciplines. Not only does this hinder global economic growth, but it also does not augur well for the attainment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as the race to tackle some of the world’s most pressing issues – climate change, war, food insecurity, and the ethical development of artificial intelligence, necessarily requires the talent, skill, and knowledge of both men and women since these issues affect the entire globe. Disenfranchising women from pursuing worthwhile careers in STEM is a disservice to the entire human race and our future.
Going Forward
There are many things we can do to achieve gender equality in STEM and to empower women and girls in STEM fields. We can begin by stimulating the interest of girls in STEM at an early age instead of perpetuating the stereotype that STEM are ‘masculine’ disciplines. The belief that boys are better equipped to tackle scientific and mathematical problems is an erroneous one and is out of touch with a modern and global society. STEM workplaces need to be bias-free environments. This can be achieved by raising awareness about bias against women in STEM fields and the harm this causes and implementing work-life balance policies for mothers and fathers. Additionally, colleges and universities can adopt more inclusive policies for the admission of both staff and students.
Some Women In STEM
- Katherine Johnson: Mathematician in the 1960s at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). She figured out how to have astronauts orbit the moon.
- Grace Hopper: Rear Admiral, Computer Scientist, and Mathematician. She was a pioneer in the development of the theory of machine-independent programming languages.
- Chien-Shiung Wu: Nuclear Physicist who contributed to methods of measuring radiation levels.
- Diana Trujillo: NASA Aerospace Engineer and Technical Group Supervisor for Sequence Planning and Execution, and Tactical Mission Lead for the Mars Perseverance rover.
- Kristal Ambrose: Marine Biologist. Her advocacy and various initiatives have led to the ban on single-use plastics in Barbados.
- Dr. Jerelle Joseph: Biophysicist and CariScholar Founder, has developed computational methods of studying protein folding.
- Ayanna T. Samuels: Aerospace Engineer, Technology Policy Specialist, and International Development Professional and only black woman since 1972 to earn a Master of Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
- Alaina Reid: Attorney-at-law and Associate Consultant at DataPro Consulting and BeyondLegal.
For further inquiries, you can contact Alaina Reid at [email protected] or [email protected].
