Promotion and Retention of Women in Mathematics
How do we interest and retain more women in the field of mathematics? "Women now make up nearly half the undergraduate math majors in the U.S. (1993 Annual Survey of the American Mathematical Society and the Mathematical association of America); yet in graduate math programs, only about one-quarter of the American students are women" (Adhikari & Nolan, 1997, p. 17). For women who choose SME (Science, Mathematics, Engineering) majors, persistence rates in the major are significantly lower than that of male peers. (Seymour, 1995, p. 438) I am interested in the topic because I am a female who experienced pursuing undergraduate and graduate mathematics degrees. I want to know what I can do to help motivate other women in mathematics. While reading the literature, I became aware of subtle personal experiences that paralleled common experiences of women pursuing mathematics majors. Whereas I had informally considered my attempts at fair, consistent treatment for all students to be positively related to motivating women (and other minorities) in mathematics, upon reading the literature a strong case is made for additional support to different groups.
Although I will focus the majority of the paper on college experiences that influence women in SME majors, literature also points to the influence of pre-college coursework. “Maple and Stage (1991) found that students who took more science and math courses in high school were significantly more likely to choose science and math majors in college” (Trusty, 2002). Farmer, Wardrop, Anderson, and Risinger (1995) found taking elective science courses in high school had a moderate direct effect on
persistence for women in science-related careers, but taking elective math courses did not. (p. 163) Although in this research taking elective math courses was not found to effect persistence of women in science-related careers, I contend that math courses are still critical as they are prerequisites for science electives of chemistry and physics. The National Science Foundation has reported, “young women have lower interest in math courses and take fewer advanced math courses” (Farmer, Wardrop, Anderson and Risinger, 1995, p. 157). In addition, Seymour and Hewitt (1997) found the effects of inadequate high school preparation to be the most common contributor to early decisions to switch from SME (science, mathematics, engineering) majors to non-SME majors (p. 79). Seymour (1995) also points out that studies have noted “the subtle deterrents to active participation in mathematics and science which bear upon precollege girls” (p.
Gandhi was a well knowledgeable and unique person who found hope in struggles that he never thought would shape who he was. Gandhi was born in a Hindu family, and even though he was the youngest he made a huge impact on others (“Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi” pg 3). He had his older brother who helped him with his education when his father passed away (“Mohandas Gandhi”). Gandhi was very religious even when he was little his brothers tried to make him eat meat (it wasn’t bad to eat meat in Hinduism when you are little), but he refused (“Mohandas Gandhi”). Gandhi respected his religion and was a respectful towards others.
STEM, also known as Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, is the field that is advancing at a rapid rate. Within STEM, there are many occupations across the four fields. As years go on, more and more people start to have a growing interest in STEM, but this can’t be said for women. Women almost take up half of the workforce, but when it comes to STEM, women only take about 24%, almost half of the women aren’t participating in STEM. The numbers continue to get worse. From 2000 - 2009, the numbers have remained at a constant 24%. At this rate, employers could potentially see a decline in women’s representation, but there have been efforts to change this rate (Beede et al par. 6). This could mean disastrous problems in the world as more problems will arise and there’s nothing to be done because companies are non-diverse and
Steen, Lynn Arthur . "Integrating School Science and Mathematics: Fad or Folly?." St. Olaf College. (1999): n. page. Web. 12 Dec. 2013..
There has been a study assessing the career preference of men and women, the study found that men are more attracted towards masculine job while women show no preference. This study also shows that men are more sensitive to gender stereotyping (Barth & Guadagno & Rice & Eno & Minney, 2015). The results of this study supports that men experience heavier social pressure and expectations to conform to society’s standards of masculinity. In addition, Current outcomes of studies highlights the underrepresentation of women in the field of STEM. Interestingly, while many women show interest in this field, only few would consider pursuing this option (Beede et al. 2011). This may be caused by women’s tendency to prioritize factors such as marriage, family, and helping others in choosing a career option, as jobs in the field of STEM are less accommodating to employees that are family oriented (Ceci et al. 2009). Expected themes seem to manifest in these data. There is a trend showing that both men and women’s career choice are somehow influenced by gender expectations and roles.
Imagine living in a time when your only role is to get married, bear children, and take care of your house and husband. Adrienne Rich proposes an ulterior idea in her essay “Taking Women Students Seriously” Women should not only question the gender standards but discuss the gender norms that society has created; by discussion and attention to the matter we can eliminate it all together. Women are not represented in school curriculums enough and have a large misrepresentation in society. Rich draws attention to: What women have working against them in education, how women are perceived in the world by the media and advertising, and the gender roles that society pressures young children to contort to. By striking up a discussion
Despite a growing push for diversity in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) fields there is still a great deal of sexism experienced by women who work and study in these fields. There are many factors to consider when examining and studying the presence of sexism in STEM. Firstly, what problems stem from society at large? What problems start from an early age and get worse? What problems are unique to high school, college, graduate school in professional environments? The goal of this research to explore and provide information on what the underlying issues are regarding how women are discriminated against when entering in and joining the STEM fields. It will examine issues primarily involved in western society,
Cole wants her readers to understand that everyone should have the right to learn this magnificent tool. K.C. Cole believes women did not have the same opportunities as men on the subject that they want to pursue in. She didn 't realize what an odd creature a woman interested in physics was until she saw a University’s conference, out of several hundred young students of physics and engineering in the room, less than a handful were women. This is especially true in the current society, where some occupation are considered women only, and some are men only. As said in her essay, “women are simply made to feel out of place in science. Her conclusion was supported by a Ford Foundation study by Lynn H. Fox on the problems of women in mathematics. When students were asked to choose among six reasons accounting for girls ' lack of interest in math, the girls rated this statement second - Men do not want girls in the mathematical occupations.” The author K.C. Cole uses historical allusion from another person to help support her idea of the exclusion of women in the science field. As we all can imagine, this did not only happen to K.C Cole. As she described in her essay, some of her friends and people she knows about also face challenges on this field, she remembers that, “A friend of mine remembers winning a Bronx Wide mathematics competition in the second grade. Her friends both boys and girls warned her that
Some triggers to asthma may consist of allergies, air pollutants(smoke, mold or even fumes), and obesity. Allergies can initiate an allergic reaction which could then trigger asthma symptoms. Smoke settles in the moist lining of your airways and damages the thin structures known as cilia. Cilia cleans all the dust and mucus from those airways. Therefor without these hairlike networks present, particles accumulate and build up occur. Smoke, also can cause more mucus to form, which can, in turn, trigger an asthma attack. Obesity puts you at an increased risk of developing asthma. Being obese puts more abdominal fat on the lungs and limits their inflation capacities, impairing lung
The world today is full of war, conflicts and lack of peace.many nations are into wars for various reasons. If Gandhi 's principles could be upheld, the world could be a better place to live in. Gandhi firmly believed in the possibility of a predominantly peaceful society; he however asserts that a government cannot be entirely non-violent. The science of nonviolence can be a stepping-stone towards a pure democracy.
Asthma is a disease that currently has no cure and can only be controlled and managed through different treatment methods. If asthma is treated well it can prevent the flare up of symptoms such as coughing, diminish the dependence on quick relief medication, and help to minimize asthma attacks. One of the key factors to successful treatment of asthma is the creation of an asthma action plan with the help of a doctor that outlines medications and other tasks to help control the patient’s asthma ("How Is Asthma Treated and Controlled?"). The amount of treatment changes based on the severity of the asthma when it is first diagnosed and may be the dosage may be increased or decreased depending on how under control the patient’s asthma is. One of the main ways that asthma can be controlled is by becoming aware of the things that trigger attacks. For instance staying away from allergens such as pollen, animal fur, and air pollution can help minimize and manage the symptoms associated with asthma. Also if it is not possible to avoid the allergens that cause a patient’s asthma to flare up, they may need to see an allergist. These health professionals can help diagnosis what may need to be done in other forms of treatment such as allergy shots that can help decrease the severity of the asthma ("How Is Asthma Treated and Controlled?").
Although, trying to get women in this field is very difficult due to many reasons that involve females from going into this job. Whitecraft and Williams, stated, “Some argue that women are less likely than men to possess cognitive abilities at the extreme right tail of the distribution, which are necessary to compete in computer science” (Whitecraft and Williams 222). One of the reasons women avoid STEM jobs is because research has found that males are more capable in highly math courses than females. The subjects that males and females excel in were also researched, and were found to be an important contribution to why women are not in computer science. “Males excelled in science, mathematics, spatial reasoning, social studies, and mechanical skills. Females excelled in verbal abilities, associative memory performance, and perceptual speed” (Whitecraft and Williams 223). The fact that more men are in STEM careers is because the research indicated that males excel in science and mathematics, which are two subjects that are needed to pursue STEM jobs. The way men and women thinks is one of the reasons there are not more women in the computer science
In 1970 women had earned only 17% of a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering computer science, and natural sciences. In 1995 though, the proportion was still low but it increased to 31%. (Macionis 1998).
If one takes a closer look at the issues surrounding the differences between the male and female roles in the workforce and in education, one will notice that women tend to be one step below men on the "status" or "importance" ladder.
Especially, women are very serious hiring discrimination in mathematic fields. They are very less selected for the new position. Employers are tendency unfair to hire women for several reasons: first, they might think women have fewer job skills than men and women are less qualified to perform nontraditional jobs and can’t handle higher-paid positions. The employers usually favored men, even if women have the same background, education, and job experience. The three nation’s top business schools examined why women make a small portion of studying or working in math and science field. The research found the discrimination even though the same credential (Alan par. 2). Male applicants are twice likely to be by hire the company over the female applicant within the math field and persist the discrimination after the applicant reported how they are done on the math task. When women give a full information for past math performance, discrimination rate fell by nine percentage points, but discrimination is still remain in the workplace. Alan argues that “The gender gap in hiring decisions is due to a systematic underestimation of the performance of women compared to men (par.
Women have had quite a few hurdles to get over since the 1950's. In 1958 the proportion of women attending college in comparison with men was 35 percent. (Friedan,