The world of STEM careers (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) is wide open to the women of today. Historically, women were discouraged from entering STEM careers. As such, there exists a gender gap between the number of men and women in the sciences.
In 1970, the US Census Bureau revealed that only 7 percent of the STEM workforce was female. By 1990, this number had leapt to 23 percent. Between 1990 and 2011, however, the number had only increased to 26 percent. There remains a large gap of opportunity for women scientists to enter the workforce.
The reasons why women were once rare in STEM careers are many. The bias toward male scientists, engineers, and mathematicians was rooted in gender discrimination. It was believed that women did not have the same capacity to analyze and think scientifically. This gender bias discouraged female university students from choosing STEM fields of study. Other factors like harassment also played a part.
Women in STEM careers also provide an important role model for young girls, who often mistakenly believe that girls can’t be good at math or science. Expanding the aspirations of young girls is another crucial factor in encouraging women to choose STEM fields. When a young girl finds a mentor or role model in a STEM career, she is more likely to believe that she can grow up to be in the same field.
STEM careers provide well-paying jobs. According to the US Department of Education, the average STEM major earns $65,000 per year after graduation. Non-STEM majors earn $15,500 less. STEM majors are also more likely to enjoy the benefits of full-time employment, rather than a combination of part-time jobs. Chrissy Weems believes that young women should be able to take advantage of the STEM fields to better support their families and their futures.
Chrissy Weems believes that there is a significant advancement opportunity in the STEM fields for women. Encouraging young women to choose these careers ensures that future scientific studies will not be biased by gender.
For example, when the majority of scientists were male, medical studies also skewed toward men. Since men and women experience different symptoms of some conditions like heart disease, women did not receive the same level of effective treatment. The increasing number of women in the sciences means that this implicit bias is decreasing over time.
The landscape of the scientific community is slowly changing over the years. In the past, science was perceived as a largely competitive field where researchers raced each other to publish scientific results. The popular misconception was that women were not able to stand up to this pressure.
Over time, the scientific community has become more collaborative, providing a more inclusive environment for scientists of both genders. The scientific fields have also become more open to women needing flexible time arrangements so that they can care for children and elder members of their families.
The importance of women in STEM careers cannot be underestimated. Chrissy Weems supports the increase of women in these careers. Women provide a fresh perspective to the landscape of STEM fields, and their contributions make significant advances in their fields.
