Inequality is deeply rooted in the world. Despite all our efforts to create an equal world, the racist and sexist ideas of the past still hang over our heads. On the surface everything seems to be fine yet they still problems for us since the ideas remain rooted so deeply into the minds of many. This is especially true in the case of women. While we made great strides in women’s rights women cannot achieve the same greatness with the same ease as males because stereotypes and stigma still give many young girls, as well as some adults, the idea that we are not talented or smart enough to get an education or career particularly in science, technology, engineering, or math despite the abundance of job opportunities in STEM. Society needs work toward eliminating these negative stereotypes that prevent girls from breaking into STEM fields since the need for more people take on a STEM career is increasing. The largest factor in the increase in demand for STEM workers is that the world is quickly becoming more information-based and technological. According to present and former employees of Counseling and Career Development Rich Feller and Angela Taurig, the demand is …show more content…
especially increasing in the United States because our competitiveness in science and technology is decreasing at an alarming rate (Traurig and Feller). The problem is that there is a stigma surrounding careers and education in STEM fields. When surveyed for the Lemselson-MIT Invention Index, a report gauging the innovation aptitude among young adults, 60 percent of young adults said the reason they opposed getting an education in a STEM field was that they didn’t know much about the prepared them to pursue further education in a STEM field. (Engler 1). The main reasons for people not going into STEM careers are lack of confidence or lack of education. Young girls experience amplified versions of what these other students experience, mainly because they have to battle stereotypes and sexism. They have a more difficult time getting a decent education in STEM because they aren’t as encouraged to do well or even take classes in science, math, and technology as boys are. The idea that women are not as talented at STEM subjects as men still acts as a barrier to women becoming more educated. A study done by the National Science Foundation and the National Research Council revealed that “old stereotypes die slowly” and “both boys and girls perceived that teachers thought boys were stronger at math and science” (University of Wisconsin). This hurts girls and supports boys, so it not only puts girls at a disadvantage but also widens the gap between girls and boys in STEM. The stereotype effects women across all fields, but especially in STEM. The enforcement of the stereotype begins early because of a girl’s parents. The lack of encouragement young girls get because of their early exposure to it greatly affects their desire to pursue anything relating to STEM. The situation seen in Verizon Wireless’s recent commercial, which depicts the parents of a young girl consistently discouraging her from doing things related to STEM and her eventual loss interest in it, is all too common (Inspire Her Mind). Since parents may have outdated ideas about what a girl is or is not good at, they may not encourage their daughters to think about a STEM career. Even if parents don’t outright tell their daughters not to get involved in STEM they discourage their daughters in more subtle. The problem with this is that adult encouragement to pursue STEM careers plays a large role in whether or not a girl chooses to go into one. In a survey done by the Girl Scout Research Institute, girls who said they were interested in STEM fields said their parents encouraged them and would support them if they were to pursue a STEM career more than those who were interested in another area (Modi, Shoenberg, and Salmond 14-15). Because of this, it is possible that if the girls who weren’t interested in STEM would be more interested or maintain an interest in STEM if they had a stronger support network. Similarly, girls can’t find support among their peers because culture and entertainment make STEM appear unappealing since the views expressed in modern American culture often clash with education, especially for young girls. Because of this, girls concerned with fitting in, and many middle school age girls are, tend to stray away from STEM even if they enjoyed it at one point in time. As Mary Pipher, a psychologist, says in her book dealing with the psychology of adolescent girls “American culture has always smacked girls on the head in early adolescence” (23). By this she means that culture and entertainment aimed toward adolescent girls focuses more on looks and boys rather than empowerment or the value of self-confidence. As a result, the requirements for being popular as a young girl have more to do with wearing the right clothes and just looking pretty in general. Girls who put all their effort into school and don’t pay much attention to their looks get cast aside at best; in many cases other girls subject them to horrid rumors and bullying. In order to avoid the torment, girls often give up or cover up the talent and hard work they put forward at school. Not only does this greatly hurt the chances of a girl becoming a STEM worker, it also injures girls’ confidence because they think they are weird for liking STEM subjects. One way to combat the lack of support some girls get from their communities and families is to create programs where girls can learn about STEM careers. Sending a girl to a program where she can learn about an area of STEM can increase her confidence in her abilities and interest in STEM as well. According to the Girl Scouts of America, “STEM girls were more likely to have done hands-on science activities when they were younger (51% vs. 37% of non-STEM girls), gone to science/tech museums (66% vs. 55% non-STEM), and engaged in an extracurricular STEM activity (36% vs. 13% non-STEM)” (Modi, Shoenberg, and Salmond 13). Positive exposure to areas of STEM through programs as a child can influence a girl’s opinion of STEM very positively as well as show girls that there is a community of people who believe in them. A very successful program that serves this purpose is Girls Who Code. Their goal is to expose high school girls to computer science in order to inspire them to take on a career in it later on in life. One of their main programs, the summer immersion program, lets girls learn about computer science, robotics, algorithms, web design, and mobile development for seven weeks. A big part of their teaching program revolves around bringing in mentors and women who work in a STEM field and are successful. The mentors not only help the girls learn, but they also give the girls a role model and a supporter. Studies show that if a girl knows someone in their life that has a STEM a job, the girl is 19 percent more likely to be seriously interested in STEM (Modi, Shoenberg, and Salmond 14). The girls in the program reported a very positive experience with the program overall. 94 percent of the girls who participated in the program in 2014 reported that they were more likely to consider a major or minor in computer science and 85 percent of them said that they would like to become a computer scientist (Girls Who Code). This is huge considering that even out of girls who were interested in STEM in the study done by the Girl Scouts of America only 27 percent of the girls wanted to become a computer programmer or scientist (Modi, Shoenberg, and Salmond 17). If there were more programs like Girls Who Code or more girls participated in programs like it then the number of women in STEM fields would increase drastically. However, once girls are into STEM they still have to fight the bias against them. Men tend to dominate women in terms of confidence in the workplace. While gathering research for a book they were writing, journalists Katty Kay and Claire Shipman found that men ask for more raises, they are much more assertive, and they feel more accomplished than women have the same job as them (Kay and Shipman). Once again, since stereotypes taught to women remain ingrained in their minds causing a drop in confidence, causing them to lose confidence in themselves. The extra confidence men have makes it easier for them to get ahead of women simply because they are more comfortable asking for rewards for their work. While the confidence of women improves because of programs like Girls Who Code, in this case the main issue is that negative stereotypes affecting how they feel about themselves and how far they can get at work. Despite the inequality women can face, there are still great job opportunities in STEM.
There an abundance of unfilled jobs in STEM because there aren’t enough people who have the right skills to fill all the jobs. According to a study done by Change the Equation, an organization that supports the growth of STEM jobs, “there are 3.6 unemployed workers for every job in the United States… compare[d to] only one unemployed STEM worker for two unfilled STEM jobs throughout the country” (Engler 1). If more people got a college education in a STEM subject rather than another area they would have much more job security. Since the odds of getting a job in any other field are so low because of the amount of unemployed people per job, it makes much more sense for a student picking a major to go for a STEM
major. The demand for women to join the STEM workforce is higher than ever as well. Although women are still a minority in STEM jobs, they “are in high demand” because girls tend to be the more studious than boys (Traurig and Feller). If women are able to get past the inhospitable environment sometimes created because STEM fields are male dominated, they can easily find a career they can support themselves with their entire lives. STEM careers even pay more than other careers. A study from the Georgetown Center of Education and the Workforce found that “65 percent of those with Bachelors' degrees in STEM fields earn more than Master's degrees in non-STEM occupations. In fact, 47 percent of Bachelor's degrees in STEM occupations earn more than PhDs in non-STEM occupations” (Engler 1). Even though women generally get paid less than men they can still make a very good living off of a STEM job. With the demand for women in STEM fields and the wonderful opportunities STEM jobs present for women the need to rid society of outdated stereotypes and biases that hold women and girls back is getting more and more urgent. Even parents can help by starting small and signing their daughter up for a program like Girls Who Code or simply by reassuring their daughter that they will support any career she chooses, even a STEM career. If we can arm girls with more confidence at a younger age and prevent them from losing it as they grow up girls can achieve greatness and break down the barriers that stand between them and STEM.
Although society claims that we are in the age where there is gender equality, it is clear that women are still not of equal standing than men. In our society, women are of lower status than men. Such as in the workplace, a male employee’s project proposal is favored over a female employee’s proposal because a male superior believes that women cannot construct ideas as well as male employees. This is a result of how our culture has influence our view that women are less superior than men. Our male dominant culture taught us that women are not as capable as men are and that between the two genders, the man is the superior.
...roblems of integration. If the science world takes advantage of undiscovered female talent, science as a whole will benefit greatly. For example, the original group of ENIAC programmers consisted of 6 women. In 1946, these women helped to develop the first operating stored-program computer.6 If female talent such as this goes to waste because of social neglect, the science world will never know what possible discoveries that could have been made with the help of women. If Dr. Djerassi is accurate with his examples of discrimination, the science world should take note of these problems and attempt to solve them.
In an era of the Jim Crow laws, life as an African-American woman was difficult. The Help (2011), a film written and directed by Tate Taylor, brings back some of this history. This film takes place in 1960s Jackson, Mississippi in the time of the civil rights movement, and when racial tension was at a rise. During this time, prejudice was at occurrence. For women who lived in Mississippi during the 1960s, employment opportunities was limited due to permissible segregation and economic inequalities. This film displays some experiences of African-American domestic workers of this period. Interaction with a black person from a white person on a level other than work was frowned upon. Many laws of inequality was forced upon African-Americans.
Summers, L. H. (2005, January 14). Remarks at NBER Conference on Diversifying the Science & Engineering Workforce. In The Office of the President. Retrieved July 17, 2011, from http://president.harvard.edu/speeches/summers_2005/nber.php
Today’s college students have the opportunity and freedom to choose their major and their career path. Many factors influence the decision of a college student’s career paths including background, general interests, personal strengths, time commitment, and job outlook. Although many important decisions are made in college, one of the most important is the choice of major and career track. Out of hundreds of majors the science and engineering fields are under-represented by women. Although the numbers of women in science technology, engineering, and mathematics, STEM, majors has been increasing in the past years, women still are in the minority in the STEM fields. In her study, Lona Whitmarsh concluded, “that career opportunities for women have widened,” but “not enough change has occurred to show significant differences between the overall population” (49). It is good that more women are entering these fields, but there are still not enough young women aspiring to fill the gaps. Further statistics show that female representation in engineering continues to be low, “in 2008 only 19 percent of bachelor’s degrees, 22.9 percent of masters, and 14.8 percent of PhDs in engineering were awarded to women” (Bystydzienski 2). Although there has been a general increase of women entering the fields of science and mathematics, overall the numbers are still low, showing that women struggle in pursuing a degree within these fields, and that many factors can lead to a female not choosing to begin or complete college in a STEM major. Women are in the minority of STEM fields.
Ethical issues are being raised due to the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields and stereotype threats arises which are relevant to evaluating performance. A research report by Hills shows that’s stereotype threat is one compelling explanation for why women remain underrepresented in STEM fields” (Hills, Para. 2). People have implicit biases and they unconsciously believe that women cannot do better in math and science as they underestimate women’s capabilities. People’s negative stereotypes continue to influence their views about women in technology fields. Romano (2016) wrote, “There are several forms of sexism present in the academic setting, such as considering women less competent in mathematics than their male counterparts or considering men lower than their female counterparts in languages (Romano, para. 2). Underrepresentation of women in technology is a complex issue as male colleagues undervalue women, thinking they cannot be good in math and technology which lowers women’s aspirations. According to the researchers at Pew Research Center, K. Parker & C. Funk, a survey conducted in July and August (2017) women in the United States believe gender discrimination is a big problem in tech industries. The survey goes on to state, “The survey comes amid public debate about
STEM is significant to our society, we need jobs not only to compete globally, but to also fix the important problems of the world. Technology is pervasive in almost every aspect of daily life, and as the workplace changes, STEM knowledge and skills grow in importance for a variety of workers (not just for mathematicians and scientists) (Traurig par. 6). If corporations increase female participation in the future, not only will it increase more genders and diversity to work in the corporation, but it will also help solve the important problems of the world because of all the minds that are working together. STEM is the future for this next generation as technology use is on the rise and more problems occur day by day. Remember when turning on the TV to show your daughter the commercials, that one commercial you showed can be the difference between her being interested in STEM or
An individual's perception of their environment can be largely affected by their motivation to feel a sense of belonging. Some people are confused as to where they belong or don’t even make an attempt to belong, this can leave people feeling lost or confused. These ideas are nicely displayed in Peter Skrzynecki’s anthology “Immigrant Chronicles” with the use of techniques where he showcases his and others' different attitudes towards trying to get a sense of belonging and the different outcomes. The poem “St. Patrick’s College” conveys the idea that even after extended periods of time, someone can continue to feel foreign due to a lack of understanding about where they are. The poem “Feliks Skrzynecki” conveys the idea that with a drive to feel at home, someone's perspective of their situation can change and people can create their own safe place.
The report of Robert Reich: “Why the Rich are getting Richer and the Poor, Poorer,” is an eye opener and a warning for society regarding unemployment that it will be facing and is currently facing due to a lack of technology and education. It clearly articulates that the jobs of routine producers and in-person servers have vanished totally as modern techniques have replaced them. The author has stated that the only people whose jobs are on the rise are symbol analysts. As stated in the report, symbol analysts are the real problem solvers. Their skills are highly in demand worldwide because they are the ones who first analyze the problem and then solve it. The Hart Report, on the other hand, also states the same problem of unemployment and the global recession which has left employers focusing on employees not only with specialists’ skills but also a “broader range of skills and knowledge” (page 6-7). The Hart Report clearly reflects what the needs of contemporary employers are, but the question is whether it is the universities or the students themselves who fail to cope with the requirements of the contemporary world which is filled with technological advancement and critical thinking. The Texas Work Source has also played an important role in examining what is actually missing in today’s generation and the reasons behind such a great decline in employment. The central
Have you wondered what would be the best degree to have in your life? The STEM vs. Humanities argument is a decades-long debate, but in this new era, the answer is quickly becoming clear. The STEM field is rapidly growing, with new and innovative advances. STEM degrees are becoming increasingly useful for young adults, far ahead of humanities and liberal arts degrees. STEM majors make more money, are better employed, and are better educated and prepared for work. STEM graduates are making nearly $16,000 more than their liberal arts counterparts and are more likely to hold a full-time job. The job market for STEM fields is also favorable for young adults, with the unemployment rate of STEM majors being a full 1.6% lower than the unemployment
Over the years there have been many changes in the work-place. Since the second World War there has been a steady increase of women on the workforce across all the different types of careers there are in the United States. Some careers have seen more of a rapid change than others, a few of the career fields that have not really had much growth in gender diversity have been Engineering and Technology. Both of these fields have always been more male dominate throughout the history of their existence. The problem is that both of these careers demand a constant stream of new innovative ideas to fuel advancements in different types of technology. Those advancements are also very important to the public’s day to day life, as both of these fields are all around us every day. There is no better way to get new ideas than to bring in someone who has a different thought process than you. That is why colleges and companies need to try harder to bring in women to these careers rather than overlook them. With that being said if someone is not right for the job, then they’re not right for the job, the problem is that many companies are choosing male engineers over female engineers. If the careers in these to field want to keep having great advancement, they’re going to need all the great minds that we can get, and stop turning so many away. There has been a lot of research done over this same subject over several years but the results do not seem to be changing, and again and again they always seem to so that men are favored over women when it comes to getting a job in the engineering and technology fields. The problem all boils down to the companies and colleges, both of which need to change so those who desire to excel in these fields, get ...
However, throughout the years, women have stepped up to promote and advocate for empowerment and inequality (WIC, 2017; McBride & Parry, 2016). Even with the positive improvements with this, gender equality is still not achieved; as women are not treated or presented equally in regards to employment and the increasing number of women working did not result in equal advancements in their careers (Michailidis, et al., 2012). Gender inequalities, discrimination and stereotypes have made the workplace atmosphere inhospitable for women, which negatively affected women’s income and the opportunity to excel in their careers (Son Hing & Stamarski, 2015). Before the 1960s, there was no law that addressed the gender inequality in the workplace (McBride & Parry, 2016). Acceptable occupations and work for women in the USA in the early 19th century were limited to either domestic work or factory labor (WIC, 2017; McBride & Parry, 2016). Women were seen as incapable of doing the male-dominated jobs, such as in the STEM fields, which includes sciences, accounting, psychology, statistics, computer programming and civil and electrical engineering (Cheryan, Jiang, Montoya & Ziegler, 2016). According to Cheryan et al., (2016), women in the USA amount to 48 percent of their workforce, however, only 6.7 percent of women graduate and 24 percent work in the STEM fields, which still shows a huge gap. Women were also unequally paid, as they were paid lower than men by doing the same jobs (WIC, 2017; McBride & Parry, 2016). The establishment of the Equal Pay Act in 1963 helped reduce discrimination and gender inequality in employment and the workplace (WIC, 2017; McBride & Parry, 2016; US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 2017). This act compelled employers to provide equal pay to employees regardless of sex, and it was made illegal to discriminate women
STEM is best known as science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. STEM for many years has been primarily seen as and stereotyped into a masculine work field. But as of recent years, while it expands, more and more women have been rising in these fields. However, there is still a tremendous gender gap between men and women in these fields and areas of work. The gender gap between men and women in STEM is alive and well. There is no denying that the gender gap between men and women in STEM is immense. But there instead are many sufficient reasons as to why there is such a huge gap between men and women within in fields. Some probable causes for the lack of women seen in these areas are biased towards women, unconscious bias girls receive
In many cases, women’s achievements are measured according to male oriented standards. I would like to argue with a more diverse approach to this cause. If humanity is comprised of both men and women, and we are equally dependent on each other for humanity’s survival, why are men and women not viewed as equals? These old attitudes are drilled into us from birth. If boys were taught mutual respect as they grew up, gender equality becomes a natural way of life. In the same way girls would need to be taught to set high goals; that they can reach as high as humanly possible. Unfortunately, typically male values and traditions have, over time, shaped the culture in Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) fields. This has created, in many ways, a hostile learning and working environment for women. From time immemorial, women have been regarde...
Today’s time schools prepare us to grow up and decide on a major to continue a career in a certain field. The only problem is that most jobs that will be needed by the time we get to that point in time haven’t even been created ye...