International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated on 11th Feb, every year. This day exists to remind us of the low rate of women in the fields of science, innovation, building, and arithmetic. Women are a minority in these fields. The significance of subjects like Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) is key to the development of the economy. This makes it imperative to bridge the prevalent gender gap and encourage STEM education among women.
Glaring Gender Disparity
United Nations points out that only 1/3 of all individuals in STEM are female. The wage gap is glaring. Women in STEM do not enjoy the same pay as their male colleagues, despite working just as hard. Moreover, women in STEM are more likely to face inappropriate behavior, harassment and stereotypical comments on their physical appearance.
When it come to STEM education, female educators and mentors are difficult to find. Females working in STEM are more likely to have negative mental effects as depression, tension, and low confidence.
Progress in STEM leads to social advancement, prosperity, and comprehensive development. This is why the gender gap here is so disturbing.
Reasons Behind The Gender Gap In STEM Education
Since early on, young girls are discouraged from seeking a vocation in STEM. Socialization of young women from an early age acts as a deterrent. Young girls are informed that particular (designing/development related) toys, for example, rockets, trains, planes, and vehicles are meant for young men.
Negative stereotypes abound, concerning their capability and insight. It is generally accepted that men rule the logical fields. Research shows, that when children were asked to draw a mathematician or researcher, young girls were twice as likely to draw male figures than females. Nearly all the young boys drew male figures.
Children grow up with the general idea that STEM professions are out of reach for women. Therefore, it comes as no surprise when numerous young women choose to follow ‘traditional’ female occupations. Even though, women lately have been seeking to expand their representation in STEM jobs, parity is still miles away.
Organizations Which Support Women In STEM
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) introduced The STEM and Gender Advancement (SAGA) Project in 2015 to address the gender gap in science and innovation-related fields. SAGA has held workshops to make people aware of the significance of women in STEM.
Another such organization is the National Girls Collaborative Project or NCGP. It seeks to motivate young ladies to pursue a career in STEM. The project was started in 2004. Since then, NGCP has helped over 37,000 young ladies wishing to enter STEM related fields.
Who Are Our Role Models?
In order to deconstruct the generalization that STEM education is only for men, young ladies need some role models to look up to. It will inspire youngsters when they learn about the women who have persevered through similar battles. They need to know that there are female specialists, engineers, and researchers.
Here’s a list of some of the inspiring ladies in STEM:
Greta Thunberg is an environmental activist from Sweden. She is 17 years old and is already making a mark on the world, by instructing people on the significance of reducing our carbon footprints to fight climate change.
Macinley Butson, 18 years old, created the SMART Armor, a wearable which diminishes the risk of women’s exposure to radiation during Breast Cancer treatments. She was named NSW’s 2018 Young Australian of the year for her contribution in the field of health.
Pooja Chandrashekar came up with ProjectCSGIRLS, to help young girls hone their computer science skills. She is a student at Harvard’s Medical Branch.
Instructors must engage young female students through class exercises as well as by encouraging them to put forth their viewpoints. It is essential to implement this approach right from the school level. Combining tech with genuine issues will emphatically resound with numerous young females, permitting them to see the extensive effects of their endeavors.
STEM Education: The Way Ahead
Young girls today must be taught to see disappointment as inspiration, as opposed to demoralization. This is especially significant for girls who are brought up to believe that STEM education is not for them. Students should be reminded that in order to succeed, they will face numerous obstructions en route. In order to take a stab at progress, they should pay little heed to the obstacles on their way. It’s time women balanced the scales of the STEM world!
