This post, one in a series for the sophomore English blog project, can be found featured on L’Oreal USA For Girls In Science here.
We live in the 21st century, a progressive time in which equality rules… or so we’re told. But is that really the truth? The disheartening answer, when it comes to STEM, is no.
STEMinism is the act of closing the gender gap in the world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. It is less about actual feminism and more about reaching a balanced world of STEM. Are you a STEMinist?
At The Hewitt School, the idea that STEM careers are better suited for boys simply does not exist. The all-female environment provides a space for unique opportunities where girls can pursue any and all interests. Having attended Hewitt since kindergarten, I have never allowed my gender to dictate my interests. And so when the notion of an accepted difference between science for girls and for boys was first brought to my attention as a skeptical six-year-old, it did not resonate well with me. After all, no girls at Hewitt means no science, no technology, and no mathematics. Shouldn’t science just be science, a subject open to everyone? Ideally, yes. But as I have grown up, I have realized that the view of my favorite color, blue, as “weird,” or not “girly” enough has implications far beyond the color shirt I wear. And as I become increasingly interested in different sides of STEM, I am more cognizant of the unfortunate truths to these internalized gender stereotypes.
Hewitt’s statistic of 100% of students studying STEM being female is certainly disproportionate to the rest of the country. However, girls do start leading the pack in high school. In fact, high school girls have been shown to earn more credits and higher grades in STEM subjects than boys.
With more women pursuing sciences after high school, the consumer world of STEM might be more well-rounded. Technology unavoidably dictates what we do and how we do it, so women in technology are more than influential. Computer scientists and programmers have revolutionized the ways we communicate, shaping our increasingly digital age. But a mere 0.3% of high school girls pursue computer science as their major in college, even after almost 75% of girls express earlier interest.
Engineers use innovation, applying science, math, and technology to solve problems. Women as engineers have the power to make great change and to solve some of the world’s most perplexing challenges. Yet still, in a room of 25 engineers, only three are women, which means solutions are mainly designed from a man’s perspective. Women also represent almost half of the nation’s workforce overall, but less than a quarter of the STEM workforce. Within these jobs, women are still found exploring more “soft” sciences than men. “Soft” science is a rather pejorative term describing categories of STEM that are supposedly better suited for women, with less rigor and fewer mechanical applications, a term which reflects society’s biased mindset.
But where does this gender gap originate? The facts point to culture and environment. Many people involuntarily recognize a STEM-oriented person as an asocial man with glasses who speaks, breathes, and interacts with nothing but computers and lab equipment. Similarly, humanities-based professions are often regarded as feminine, as is the color pink due to its “girly” tinge. Look back to the beginning of this post where I bolded “girls” and “boys” in blue and pink, respectively. Did you think it was a mistake? Or did the ostensible role reversal catch your eye? If you answered “yes,” a subtle gender assumption may have taken over without you knowing. The implicit bias against women that STEM fields should be male-dominated has a huge effect despite popular denial, and it has the power to influence a girl’s choice of interest, her parents’ encouragement or discouragement, and a potential employer’s hiring decisions. Recognizing this bias is the first step to ensuring an equal world of STEMinism to give women the chance not only to be influenced but also to influence.
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Susannah Meyer ’15’s STEMinism blog series was picked up by L’Oreal For Girls In Science, and each post will be published periodically on their website.