Women are needed in STEM fields!

 Women Belong in STEM Fields

        When you think of the people in STEM fields, the first thing that probably comes to mind is most likely a male. There is a problem with that. Women are needed in the field just as much as men are. The United States Census says in 2019, only 27% of the people in the STEM field are women. There are multiple reasons why women shy away from the STEM fields, including the lack of encouragement. 

-Two women working together

What is STEM?

STEM consists of the education fields of science, technology, engineering and math. While those four are the main fields, STEM is thought to encompass many fields. It is a consistently growing field and is constantly in high demand for individuals. The Florida department of education says that STEM best prevails when individuals are supported. The lack of support needed to keep STEM fields functional is shown through the lack of support for women within the field. 

Numbers of Women in STEM Fields vs. Men in STEM

In a book written by, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization it states, “Only 17 women have won a Nobel Prize in physics, chemistry, or medicine since Marie Curie in 1903, compared to 572 men. Today, only 28% of all the world’s researchers are women.” When you think of how many men won a Nobel Prize compared to women, it is a very large amount. 555 more men have won a Nobel Prize. If equality is not brought to the fields of STEM, your daughters and your granddaughters will see the same devastating ratios in the winners of Nobel Prizes. 

Sexism in Male Dominated Fields 

Sexism in the STEM fields is a large factor in women not wanting to join the field. In the article, “Why are there few women in STEM?”, it says that it is often said that women have less talent in the field, which pushes women out of the field. Someone’s talent in a specific thing should not be based on their gender. Both genders can have the same amount of talent in the field. 

”Women who talk about sexism in the workplace often talk about “imposter syndrome” and how they feel pressure to perform perfectly in order to legitimize their place” says Western Governors University. When we talk to women about their experiences in their work environment it should not be how they feel like an impostor. Women’s experiences in the work environment should be the same as males. They should not have to have pressure to make everything perfect all the time. 

Lack of Mentors and Role Models 

Mentors or role models are often people we can see ourselves in, someone who may look like us, think like us or act like us. So when there is a lack of that in a field it can be very difficult to believe in yourself when pursuing that career

In the literature review article written by Yasmeen Makarem and Jia Wang it is said that a lack of mentors is one of reasons few women go into stem fields. Without the guide of more educated individuals many people will begin to feel hopeless or lost in their fields. 

Young girls interested in STEM fields often do not have women to look up too and many will shy away without the strong female leadership in a field. Having strong female leadership is important for young girls. 

-Young children working in science

Lack of Encouragement 

Humans in general need encouragement in praise in order to feel fulfilled in their lives, when there is a lack of this encouragement we begin to feel unmotivated or unaccomplished. The lack of encouragement from outside forces may cause women to shy away from STEM fields. Lack of support from family, who may support the typical gender roles, can be very discouraging especially to young girls. 

In a book written by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization it states that “Peer relationships influence children’s beliefs, behaviours, academic achievement and motivation, especially during adolescence.” The ideas of peer acceptance and encouragement are very important to children and the need to fit in is valued. If female children going into STEM fields are discouraged by their peers they will stay away from it and go with the norms of their friends and peers.

While there is no one coming out and directly discouraging women joining STEM, there are many factors that come into play when women are deciding to join.

My Experience

I was a sophomore in high school. I was the only girl in a robotics class. I had time to work on a group project. I was told by one of the boys in class, “I do not want to work with her because she is a girl and younger than us.” I was able to do the exact same as them but I was a girl and he would not work with me. I ended up showing him that I could do the same thing he could.

How to Change it 

One way to encourage young girls to take an interest in STEM fields is to provide them with positive role models and media. Showing girls media with women in STEM fields, such as the Disney show Doc Mcstuffins, will help young girls see themselves in STEM fields. 

-Doc McStuffins

Another way is to educate and promote females in STEM fields, especially in education settings. Encourage girls to have fun with the fields and acknowledge achievements of women in the field. Having STEM based camps that encourage girls to join, or even female based camps and programs are very useful in promoting interest in the field and allowing girls to meet like minded girls and not feel isolated by the male dominated fields.