Pursuing a field of STEM in higher education is becoming increasingly popular throughout the world. With many diverse and fulfilling opportunities, a career in STEM sounds like the ideal path for many in the 21st century. However, the proportion of each gender in the STEM workforce remains starkly different, with women accounting for only about 40% of STEM careers globally.
Why is that the case? Although there are numerous potential reasons, there are certain rationales important to note as they stem from underlying societal problems.
First, there is often a gender bias in the hiring process for STEM jobs that deters females from pursuing STEM as a career choice. This is largely due to unjust stereotypes that cause hiring representatives to subconsciously perceive females as inferior to their male counterparts.
For example, women are traditionally seen as submissive rather than leaders, resulting in a perceived lack of corporate management potential. Therefore, females may avoid pursuing a given job opportunity due to a lower probability of climbing up a corporate STEM ladder compared to their male colleagues, despite having equivalent capabilities.
To illustrate, for every 100 men who receive a promotion to manager, only 81 women are likewise promoted. This phenomenon is referred to as the “broken rung,” and serves as a potential motivation for women to avoid pursuing a corporate STEM job.
Stereotypical traits of women like higher emotional intelligence are also perceived as weaknesses instead of strengths. These traditionally feminine traits are looked down upon in the STEM workforce, resulting in women having a disadvantage.
Furthermore, women have been frequently overlooked for their contributions in STEM, which diminishes the number of female STEM role models for young girls. Take Rosalind Franklin: an incredible woman who revolutionized our understanding of genetics by discovering the double helix shape of DNA through her X-ray crystallography photographs. Unfortunately, her data was used without explicit permission by Francis Crick and James D. Watson. Ultimately, she did not receive a Nobel Prize for her contributions.
Adolescent girls deserve to learn about these female role models in order to see their gender’s representation in STEM. Knowing about these impressive contributions is crucial for these girls to know that their gender is capable of more than what society dictates for them.
It is crucial to implement change in order to see improvement. While society has undoubtedly made immense strides in gender equality over the course of history, there are still weaknesses. Addressing these prolonged issues through more widespread awareness and implementations like revised hiring practices is necessary in order to continue making progress in gender equality.
