Stereotypes In STEM

Science, technology, engineering, and math are the four areas of study that make up STEM. These four areas all have one thing in common: they are all dominated by men. According to Lauren C. Williams, “men outnumber women 7 to 3 in tech jobs in New York City — and nationwide.”.7 Despite this, “women now earn more bachelor’s and master’s degrees than men”.6 However, “women are a minority”.2 Women are a minority in all STEM careers. The ratio of men to women in scientific fields has never been one to one. For some unknown reason very few women are choosing to become chemists, physicists, engineers, computer technicians, or mathematicians. There are many proposed theories for why women are extremely outnumbered in these scientific

The STEM fields are diverse and evolving constantly, with the advancement of civil rights in regards to women as well as the education of the public to this issue, it is likely that there will come a time when women and men can be equally represented in these disciplines. The importance of studying the gender gap between men and women in STEM is to learn how to confront gender biases in these fields. Conclusive evidence has shown that diversity in science will likely yield positive results. Findings from the Journal of the Royal Society Interface state that:

However, of that 48%, only 24% of them are involved in a STEM field. However, statistics are saying now, more than ever, women are pursuing STEM careers. Yet, what happens behind the scenes while earning your degree? My mother has experienced a prime example of exactly what happens when women attempt to pursue a STEM career. She had decided on taking a programming course in college. Long story short, she got to her assigned computer and began to design her screen like the creative woman she is. Her professor walked up to her found it unrighteous to have her computer screen pink when everyone else's where "manly" colors. He suggested that she goes to the counselor to change courses since technology was "manly" thing. Sadly, she listened along with many other women. I say that because "...nearly a third of women in science, engineering and technology (S.E.T.) fields say they are likely to quit within a year," (Sherbin, ...Bias in Their Labs). It's unfortunate that women all over feel that they are not worthy because of their gender or their lack of "manliness." STEM fields aren't a manly thing, they need to be identified as gender neutral profession, as every profession should

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.

Before women to get more involved in the STEM fields women first have to go and get degrees in STEM undergraduate programs. One way to help change this is the lack of female role models. Girls need role models to show that they can be successful in STEM fields. If there are such strong gender stereotypes it might be discouraging women from pursuing STEM education and STEM jobs. It is complicated to get young women role models because the people who are part of the hiring team said that were less likely to say they would hire the female applicants overall and that they would offered them lower salaries and fewer mentoring opportunities. This is a problem because women will be less likely to want to get into these fields because they will have to work so much harder to get the same recognition as the males. Young girls will be more interested in getting into one of these fields where they fear comfortable. Young girls need a role model like Emily Roebling who studied math and science and became the chief engineer in the building of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1860. Another reason that girls are less likely to pursue these majors is gender stereotyping, and less family-friendly flexibility in the STEM fields. Across all STEM fields, female PhDs have lower rates of patenting and entrepreneurship than do male PhDs. This difference is most pronounced in physics, astronomy and the computer sciences, in which women earned only 1 in 5 PhDs. There is a need to encourage and support women in

From overt to subtle, prejudices and stereotypes in the United States sustains a widespread, structured institutional presence in culture, law, and psychology and remains one of the greatest determinants of inequality (Ladson-Billings & Tate, 1995). A ubiquitous misconception is often posited that Black males, an underrepresented and highly stereotyped group on higher education campuses, utterly and unequivocally share similar experiences and backgrounds (Harper & Nichols, 2008). Conceivably, some misconceptions generated about Black male undergraduate students can be attributed to changing demographics in higher education and the acknowledgement of differences between established races. Efforts dating back to the 1960’s, accompanied by affirmative

During the summer before my junior year I truly felt that I transitioned from a child to the person that I am today. An event happened which became such a huge turning point in my life that I barely even recognized myself after it transpired. It occurred during volleyball camp, when one of my closest friends and I were sitting in the locker room waiting for the day to start. Our conversation started off with simple small talk. Then, completely out of the blue she told me something that felt like a punch in the stomach. She stared straight into my eyes and said “Erin, I know you’re gay.” I couldn’t do anything but stare. So many thoughts were tumbling through my head that my vision became blurry and I couldn’t breathe. I didn’t know what to

Ever since high school I have always been interested in going into research. I attended a magnet high school in south eastern Connecticut that was STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) based. I took advanced biomedical courses that gave me skills that no regular or private school in the area offered. The courses mostly focused on molecular biology and genetics which increased my interest in pursuing a major related to genetics. Even with my high interest in pursuing higher education and a career in the STEM field, it may prove a challenge for me as women are underrepresented in the STEM field. I participated in a program developed by one of my high school administrators to increase confidence and the number of women pursuing STEM

Since the beginning, men have ruled the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Which explains the huge gender gap in STEM jobs. As of 2009, women occupied 24% of STEM jobs. Many of these women work in the science field. Only about 12% of women occupy the engineering and computer science field.

Technology and science aren’t just for men – but we knew that already, right? Then why don’t we hear more about women in these fields? Perhaps, it is because there is a lack of precedence in including young female students in STEM programs. It’s important for the future to encourage students to follow their interests and establish a safe STEM-centric environment for them to experiment in. It’s with this belief in mind that fischertechnik Education decided to donate a collection of fischertechnik Mini Bot sets to the NYC SPARX organization. NYC SPARX is an incredible, free New York City Park’s program dedicated to helping girls of all ages and abilities explore the world of science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM).

Over the past couple of decades’ girls have begun to surpass boys in academics. Girls have higher high school and college graduation rates, enrollment in Advance Placement (AP) classes, selected for valedictorians and salutatorians, and there are more female applicants being accepted to professional programs, such as physicians and surgeons and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Throughout history, men had access to better education than women. The educating of women was deemed unnecessary by parents, elders, educators, and other members of the community. The traditional role for women consisted of homemaking and child rearing, neither required any type of formal education. Clearly, skills to support these traditional roles were important and often acquired from the more senior women of the extended family and the

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

Education is a huge factor affecting women's job placement. From a young age, gender role expectations are taught to students through books, televisions, advertisements, and adult social interactions (Etaugh & Liss 129-130). These gender role expectations are extremely institutionalized but currently, women have made strides to have a greater representation at the college level. The percentage of women (68%) between the ages of 18 to 24 enrolled in college, exceeds that of men, which is 66% since 1990 (Parrillo 441). Even amongst minority groups, women have a larger presence on college campuses. Even though women are not the minority in college, they are still minorities in the science majors and overrepresented in majors required for more

The underrepresentation of women in STEM is a problem in which I harbor particularly strong feelings, as female scientists are typically neither recognized nor celebrated for their scientific contributions. Young girls with dreams of being scientists find few role models as male figureheads historically dominate STEM fields, teaching women that this is not a suitable field of study.

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,