Growing up, I have always had a love for computers. I always wanted to do something on a computer, be it typing or even playing a game. Once it was on a computer, I was happy about it. Unfortunately, I hadn’t thought of pursuing that love into a career because I was blinded by other fields I thought I was also interested in. As a result, when I was applying for my university education, I was blinded by the field of Civil Engineering but because my university didn’t offer it, I chose Mechanical Engineering because I felt it was the closest field to it. However, after my first year of school, I had a C+ in my Physics course while I had an A in my Python class. I made no thought about it but I felt that Mechanical engineering wasn’t the field for me. After a long period of thinking and reflecting, I switched to Computer Engineering because at the moment, I felt it was relatively easier compared to the other engineering disciplines my school offered, ie. Mechanical and Electrical. I felt …show more content…
Girls were assumed to be weak while the boys were attributed to being the stronger ones. On the influx of education, parents felt boys will be more capable to do school work because they do the supposedly harder work. So only male children were sent to school with the girls remaining in the kitchen and also doing housework. Unfortunately, this mentality that boys were better, instilled by our forefathers, discouraged girls from taking up courses like Math and Science because they felt they wouldn’t be good at it. The few women who have been able to break the status quo and venture into the field are few and are mostly not available to mentor younger females to go into it. So there are a whole lot of other females who don’t know the world of computer science or engineering and all the various opportunities it
Interestingly enough, there are many traditional and social reasons responsible for girls decision of not getting involved in math and science. However, the main reason why females are behind in the field of science and technology is “Inflicted female disability” i.e. turning themselves away from studies. In adolescence, girls begin to fear that they will be unattractive to boys if they are typed as “brains” (Susan 114). So, they try to keep themselves away from advanced biology, physics, calculus and other studious subjects. Although we are in the 21st century and are the supporter of gender equality however the underlying discrimination
There is inequality between men and and women in things like STEM (Science, technology, engineering and mathematics). Over the years inequality has gotten better in education but it still occurs in this program. According to an article in Maclean’s magazine, in Canada there are fewer women earning PhD’s in Science than the UK and United States of America. Young women need to be encouraged to strive for positions in the workforce that only young men typically strive for. The science and engineering classes can be intimidating, so more should be done to influence
It's is written in history that the field of Math and Science seems to be a more male dominant field. The evidence shows that years ago women were discouraged from pursuing the field. We learned about the Darwin theory which is based on the fact that men were inferior to women. A theory that to a point made society actually believes that because men's brains were bigger they were smarter than females. This matter on top of a society that already didn't treat male and female equal created more challenges for women to succeed. Another main reason was that education for women wasn't as accessible as it was to men. Women didn't have the resources and at times weren't allowed to attend the schools available to men.
The force of societal stereotypes is a large part of this gap. Instead of joining STEM careers, the most common careers among women are secretaries, nurses, and elementary and middle school teachers (Mandell). This truly illustrates that when well-rounded, talented women have the choice, they are inclined to delve into the field in which society expects them to belong. In this way, the stereotype of women not being involved in STEM is forcing less women to be involved in these fields. The deficiency of women in technical fields, despite their well-roundedness and ability, can be directly related to unyielding cultural stereotypes that stigmatize women in supposedly masculine fields.
In today’s modern age, it is disappointing to still find gender bias in any facet of our society. It is even more disappointing to find it in our schools. Women are constantly combating gender bias in everyday life, and school communities are affecting the careers of women by pushing them further away from STEM subjects. Girls are afraid of their own abilities. Why have we allowed this to happen?
Most of this gender disparity starts early. As early as in grade school. Young girls are rarely motivated to take Math and Science. This can be problematic because studies show that a lack in intellectual belief can in turn inhibit intellectual growth. There is also that persistent unconscious bias that Science and Math are male fields while females tend to do well
areas of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics employers are not getting enough women (Pozniak). High school girls only represent 17 percent of computer science Advance Placement (AP) test takers (O'Shea). The most significant group of minorities who are behind in earning computer technology degrees and working in science and mathematical professions are women. “Historically, women’s low representation in science and engineering was said to be due in large part of their lack of ability, interest, or both” (Horning 30). However, this is no longer a true fact according to Ward. Some suggestions to increasing the amount of women in sciences include introducing already present women faculty as mentors. Over the last three decades,
In the mathematical field there is an obvious differentiation between the amount of males and females in the field. This might raise the question of why that is or if there even is a specific reason, well there is, women are heavily pushed away from mathematical careers due to multiple factors. Although there are not many females in the math field, the ones that are bring different ways of thinking into light which helps the math careers grow and improve. Even though women do have different perspectives and outlooks on things, the way they do math is not very different, but unfortunately when put in pressured situations women seem to underperform compared to when they are in a calm, unpressured environment. One way that people could rid of
Computers and technology have played an important role in my life (in both amazing ways, and in lesser ways). Ever since I was a kid and played my first video game, I have had a great interest in technology and the many things that could be done by them. Although at the time it seemed like “magic” to me, as I grew up and I started learning about the components, I realized that it wasn't "magic", it was amazing . Now that I’m older, my mind is clearer when it comes to knowing that I want technology to stick with me and I want to play a role in doing wondrous things with it. Currently, I’m still trying to conclude on what exactly I’d like to work with, and surely, with the opportunities that the Engineering Honors have to offer, I feel as though I will know what I'm meant to do.
I spent three years at Northern Virginia Community College and transferred to a four-year university to earn a B.A degree. Although I have a degree from my country, I started from the beginning because I wanted to change my major. As my interest varies, I have two areas that I like interchangeable. My undergraduate degree was focused on natural science. While, information technology was not my first major, during my first year in college I thought about double major in computer science but I did not because I had to graduate and start working. I graduated with B.A in biology and immediately began working as a Medical Technologies. Working as a medical technologist, I noticed my interest in the computer system at my workplace as well as I am good at troubleshooting whenever we have a computer problem in the lab. Knowing that I have a passion for computer technology, I started looking an opportunity to attend online degree. After long planning and thinking, I began a master degree in information technology this year at UMUC. Though, I like biology and natural science, having my Master degree in Informatics will give me satisfaction as well as a good job long after I graduated. So far, I have understood that Information technology is a fascinating career field and equally
Women have the qualities that are needed to become good engineers. The only way that women are different from men in the field is in the training. Women have all the capability to become good engineers as men if they can receive the proper/same training, employment and promotion as men. In receiving training women make up a extremely small amount of the student population in science related majors. Only 53% of the total students in Scotland universities are women. However bellow 19% are studying engineering, computer studies, and physicals sciences. Likewise, University students in Germany were only 48% women. Of the 48% of women only 20% of the engineering students are women. Women are the minority in engineering and like courses. In Bulgarian they limited women to only be allowed to make up 50% of engineering students.
Gender equity issues in mathematics and science have been the focus of many educators and researchers for years. Women have often been denied an equal education in math and science for many reasons. Parents and teachers must realize this fact and change their habits wherever necessary. Girls must be given the same opportunity as boys from the beginning, particularly in math and science where girls tend to lag behind.
Living in hope, with our beliefs and with little expectation of others is the way forward. My parents, simple and honest people, have high expectations of me wishing that I grew to be an honorable human being, just like them. Martin Luther King’s life inspires the determined and I agree that to give up in life or stop is deplorable. Irrespective of the hurdles, to push forward with all of one’s might is the only way to succeed. Living this philosophy, my father, a genuine rags to riches story, altered my life, leading by example and encouraging me to follow the path of righteousness.
My true passion for engineering began when I came across the quote: "Technology are devices that make our lives better". Despite my first love of mathematics, my recent interest for engineering has come from two major influences. The first being my mathematics and physics teachers, both engineers by nature, who have helped me enhance the fundamental skills essential for engineering and embrace the importance of the field. The second being the learning about uses of technology in Computer Science, it taught me the magnitude of which technology contributes to our everyday lives has led me to intensify my desire to improve the lives of others.
Why do these gender gaps exist? Researchers believe that cultural and social factors, as well as educational, and attitudinal factors contribute to this gap. Cultural beliefs that boys excel in math and science and that girls excel in the arts can be passed down through generations and adults who may not even realize it are acting on these beliefs (Sanders, 1997). “Subtle and unintended messages can create the idea among girls and boys that there are fields