Throughout women in STEM history, they have achieved great accomplishments in the traditionally male-dominated field of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics): Humankind have participated in the Manhattan Project, made contributions to the decoding of DNA for humanity; and we have discovered radium, and been involved in the design and construction of the Golden Gate Bridge, among countless other achievements.
What are STEM females?
What is women in STEM? Women in STEM refers to women who are involved in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics fields. We can call such a woman in STEM a STEM female. Moreover, it is a term used to highlight the underrepresentation of women in these fields and to advocate for gender equality and diversity in STEM careers.
Women in STEM face various challenges, including stereotypes, biases, and unequal opportunities, which can deter them from pursuing and advancing in these fields. Efforts are being made to encourage more women to enter and thrive in STEM careers and to close the gender gap in these industries.
As females in STEM field mastering complex disciplines and experimental techniques, we must also overcome biases against female participation in this women and STEM field, which limit our development opportunities. Today, although these barriers have significantly decreased, biases against STEM females persist.
Over the past few decades, STEM females have gained a significant presence in the job market, with the employment rate of women aged 25 to 54 reaching a historic high of 78% in 2017, up from 57% in 1975. Recent reports have found that women in the UK are 35% more likely to attend university than men.
Although women constitute 47% of the workforce in STEM disciplines traditionally dominated by men, they currently account for only one-fourth of positions in mathematical sciences and 13% of positions in engineering.
For a long time, STEM fields have been dominated by men. However, in recent years, the number of female international students studying STEM majors at American universities has been increasing, with the abundance of research opportunities provided by these institutions attracting them to this field. The exposure to the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship in the United States can significantly enhance their competitiveness in the workplace.
While women may still dominate traditional roles such as nurses, flight attendants, and social workers, there has been an increase in female students entering non-traditional career paths, such as computer programmers, airplane pilots, and even firefighters.
A gender reversal in higher education
According to the latest survey by UCAS, women in the UK are 35% more likely to attend university than men. Out of a total of 180 subjects, women outnumber men in 112 of them, with women leading in subjects such as psychology (81.7%), social work (88.3%), and academic research (88.7%). Nursing remains the most popular subject for women, with 90.5% of female students in 2017. In the Middle East and North Africa, 45% of STEM degree holders are women, a proportion much higher than the 30% in North America and Europe.
Due to encouragement and the presence of strong female role models, female students are now studying traditionally male-dominated subjects such as computer science and engineering. Currently, there are 66,840 more female students pursuing degree courses than male students, compared to 34,035 in 2007.
“Some scholars believe that countries with higher levels of gender equality exhibit greater gender differences in STEM education at the secondary and tertiary levels. When economic opportunities are higher and risks are lower, individuals may choose academic and career paths based on their interests and academic strengths.”
In the book “Gender Equity in STEM in Higher Education,” published by Routledge, an imprint of Taylor & Francis, the authors analyze the cultural, political, and personal factors that contribute to the underrepresentation of woman in STEM in terms of learning and careers. They find that many countries exhibit similar patterns as mentioned above, which helps explain why fewer women pursue STEM degrees in North America and Europe compared to the relatively higher representation of women in STEM fields in the Middle East and North Africa.
When we consider STEM as a whole, it is easy to overlook the complexities of gender equity within STEM sub-disciplines.
In “Gender Equity in STEM in Higher Education,” the author states, “In reality, there are only a few females in STEM fields at the undergraduate level in higher education. When policymakers refer to STEM disciplines, they often refer to a relatively narrow range, with few girls and young women ‘entering’ certain fields, and their level of involvement may exhibit significant gender differences. For example, there is a higher proportion of women pursuing biology, while a higher proportion of men pursue engineering. By focusing solely on these relatively narrow disciplines, we may overlook other fields within STEM where women are better represented, such as behavioral sciences, particularly psychology, or fields like medicine, particularly nursing.”
What is the status of women’s development?
Despite the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields such as computer science and engineering, women have made significant progress in other areas. According to a 2017 survey conducted by WES, 11% of the engineering workforce was composed of women, a higher percentage compared to 9% in 2015.
Traditionally, professions such as nursing and data entry in the STEM field have been predominantly occupied by women, and this trend continues. The following is a list of thriving industries for women and the percentage of women employed in each:
- Nurses – 90%
- Healthcare practitioners and technicians – 81.4%
- Clinical laboratory technicians – 74%
- Medical scientists – 53.7%
- Financial managers – 53.2%
Women in STEM statistics
Microsoft conducted a groundbreaking study, investigating the attitudes towards STEM education among 11,500 women aged between 11 and 30 in 12 European countries. Unique insights revealed that the majority of girls develop an interest in STEM subjects around the age of 11 and a half, although most of them lose this interest by the age of 15. Reasons for this include a lack of female role models and a perceived lack of practicality, as well as a lack of hands-on experience during primary and high school.
According to data from UCAS, the number of women studying law has been steadily increasing over the years. The number of female law school students admitted to study law is more than double that of males. As an example, in 2017, among the 26,075 students enrolled in law studies, 33 percent were males and 67 percent were females.
These are the statistics regarding the representation of women in STEM that Stemspur got from the Google AI-generated results:
- In 2021, 65% of STEM occupations were occupied by men and 35% by women.
- By 2023, women accounted for 28% of the STEM workforce.
- In the United States, the percentage is 24%.
- In the European Union, the percentage is 17%.
- In Japan, the percentage is 16%.
- In India, the percentage is 14%.
- In Singapore, the average percentage of women in STEM degree programs is 48.25%.
- Women make up 48% of bachelor’s degree recipients in mathematics and statistics.
- Women make up 63% of bachelor’s degree recipients in biological and biomedical sciences.
- Women make up 83% of bachelor’s degree recipients in health professional and related sciences.
How universities attract women to study male-dominated disciplines
The belief that women are more suited to humanities and that engineering and technical majors are more suitable for men not only exists in China but also the United States. The most obvious manifestation of this is the phenomenon of the underrepresentation of females in STEM fields. Is there a certain relationship between this and gender?
Although the number of girls interested in STEM has reached a new high, very few of them consider it as a career choice – a concern for many who care about our economic prospects and future development. To achieve gender balance in the STEM workforce and to cultivate the innovative thinking needed for future advancements, we need to actively encourage girls to develop interest and skills in STEM fields.
“There is a widespread perception that women do not belong in STEM, but people tend to lump all STEM fields together,” said Sapna Cheryan, the lead author and associate professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Washington. “This is the first time we have truly tried to explore why women are underrepresented in certain STEM fields compared to others.”
Is it surprising to see a general lag in the involvement of women in scientific research at different levels compared to men? Though the achievements of women in scientific research are evident, the number of female students opting for STEM courses in schools is still low, so it is not surprising that there are far more men engaged in technical work than women.
While there has been an increase in the number of women earning master’s and doctoral degrees in STEM fields, the number of female researchers who secure tenure in undergraduate institutions is still limited, indicating that biases persist.
“There is a widespread perception that women do not belong in STEM, but people tend to lump all STEM fields together,” said Sapna Cheryan, the lead author and associate professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Washington. “This is the first time we have truly tried to explore why women are underrepresented in certain STEM fields compared to others.”
Is it surprising to see a general lag in the involvement of women in scientific research at different levels compared to men? Though the achievements of women in scientific research are evident, the number of female students opting for STEM courses in schools is still low, so it is not surprising that there are far more men engaged in technical work than women.
While there has been an increase in the number of women earning master’s and doctoral degrees in STEM fields, the number of female researchers who secure tenure in undergraduate institutions is still limited, indicating that biases persist.
How to improve the status of women in STEM
The important thing is to address the stereotypes faced by girls to attract them to study male-dominated subjects in college. Here are 9 ways to achieve this:
Spark their interest early on
Most girls express a lack of confidence and skills as reasons for choosing to opt out of typical “male” subjects in high school. Changing this perception in the early stages of girls’ school careers and introducing hands-on learning opportunities, workshops, and peer interactions can open doors for more young girls, allowing them to have confidence in their abilities to enter the dynamic and rewarding STEM workforce.
Break stereotypes
It is important to dispel the myth that discourages young girls from studying “male” subjects in school and pursuing careers in these fields. One major misconception is that IT careers are limited to coding and development. A strong technical background can lead to a wide range of career paths, including medicine, education, and communication, among others.
Female role models
Due to a lack of role models and a “boys’ club” mentality, young women are deterred from pursuing careers in STEM & STEAM, and IT fields. This is why mentorship plays an important role in guiding women toward successful and confident paths. By pairing young women with accomplished female professionals, they not only receive one-on-one attention and guidance but also witness living proof that women can succeed in these industries.
Create a fictional research study
Simple things like baking can turn into fascinating scientific experiments. Try experimenting with varying amounts of flour and baking soda or omitting one ingredient required in a recipe. Then, taste the results and see if it’s delicious or hard to digest.
Create a fictional research study to find hidden math problems
Going shopping can cultivate excellent math skills, such as evaluating if “buy two, get one free” is truly a good deal. Similarly, dining at a favorite restaurant can provide similar experiences. Next time you’re dining at your favorite restaurant, try listing all the things that make hungry diners happy, from the forks to the menu to the ingredients, and even the waiter’s salary and uniform.
Fix things using tools
Teach girls to be familiar with a toolbox. Wrenches, screwdrivers, hammers, and nails can be helpful companions when they want to design and build something. These tools can also be used for taking things apart! Go ahead, satisfy your curiosity, and explore the inner workings of old phones lying around at home.
Host a STEM super party
Invite your daughters, nieces, and their friends to roll up their sleeves and engage in some experiments. For example, try putting a bar of soap in the microwave and see what happens.
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“The educational decisions that students make are largely influenced by how they feel about the field,” says Cheryan. “Without prior experiences to inform them about what the field is actually like, it’s easy for them to rely on stereotypes and form ideas about who is naturally good at it.”
