Encouraging gender diversity in STEM

Despite efforts to promote diversity, equality, and inclusion (DEI) and provide equal opportunities for all, women are still heavily under-represented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education and jobs.

 

However, this is beginning to change. In S|Three’s STEM Youth Survey, women comprised half of all respondents aged 18 to 30 who were interested, enrolled or active in STEM education or careers. This result seems to indicate a new trend and point to the possibility that more women will be actively involved in STEM in the future.

 

Geographical disparities

 

According to research from PwC, only 3 per cent of females say a career in technology is their first choice. This is generally linked to social factors, such as fewer females enjoying maths and science at school, and technology-related jobs being unsuitable for parenthood. In comparison, recent findings from Exploding Topics show that Canada has the highest representation of females in the workforce, at 61.3 per cent.

 

These statistics show a significant gender disparity between different geographical areas, starting in the classroom, specifically in curricula and educational materials. It comes as a surprise that surveys demonstrate how parents show a greater preference for sons to work in STEM. In countries such as China, India and Pakistan, only some professions are considered a benchmark or proof of success, such as engineering or medicine. More specifically, engineering used to be considered primarily for boys, and medicine for girls, as a cultural norm or trend. Yet, despite facing patriarchal behaviours and attitudes, girls in these regions are essentially outperforming boys in all fields today, as they are more focused, hardworking, ambitious and career-oriented than ever before.

 

Subjects such as maths and science are harder to study, therefore girls are outperforming boys in these subjects resulting in more of them entering STEM education and career paths in these countries compared with the US, UK, Europe and Japan. In fact, The Women’s Engineering Society (WES) statistics show that in the UK, only 25.4 per cent of girls aged 16-18 would consider a career in engineering compared with 51.9 per cent of boys, with women making up less than 18 per cent of higher apprenticeships in engineering and manufacturing.

 

Why do so many women avoid or abandon STEM careers?

 

Essentially, women who study STEM subjects are less likely to enter STEM careers. And if they do, they are likely to leave their jobs earlier than their male peers. Many women face more discrimination than their male colleagues, especially in more male-dominated STEM fields. In Asian countries, the main reason for this is not being able to continue with the job after marriage and children, as homemaking is considered the main responsibility of a woman.

 

What needs to change 

 

There can be several solutions to tackle gender gaps in STEM, one of which is addressing gender biases in learning materials. For example, biographies of women who have succeeded in male-dominated fields can alter the career aspirations of girls from traditional to non-traditional careers. Another way is to engage parents of girls in STEM, as this can help contribute to reshaping parental attitudes towards the participation of girls in engineering. Encouraging participation in extracurricular activities such as STEM events, visits, workshops, competitions and clubs, for example, could help foster interest in STEM among young girls.

 

There are still many barriers for women working in STEM, but these can be overcome by promoting and providing equal opportunities regardless of gender, allowing women to feel confident enough to step into the field. Essentially, young females should be encouraged to join STEM industries, and the success stories of accomplished women in STEM should be shared with wider communities, so more women can be inspired and mentored.

Ultimately, societies should work together to break current stereotypes and make a global change. Although it may take decades for women to achieve true equality in STEM, there is a bright future ahead.