Credit: Debbie McCallum, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Globally, as of 2022, 31.1% of science and engineering researchers and personnel in R&D are women. In the US, only 34% of STEM bachelor’s degrees go to women, and even fewer successfully go on to work in the industry, with 26.7% in tech and 28% in computing. Girls often outperform boys in almost all subjects, including STEM subjects, but it is boys who often pursue STEM, according to Washington University.
Some may ask why this gap matters so much, not seeing the negative consequences. With the median STEM earnings being more than double that of non-STEM jobs, this means women lose out on potential earnings if they don’t see STEM as a potential career. For companies, this lack of diversity can actually lead to lower innovation and productivity, which are key drivers of revenue and profits.
Science is Unbiased; Scientists are Not
Potentially the most important factor is that, without diversity in research, critical issues go overlooked. When women aren’t in health research, women’s health gets ignored as researchers don’t take into account the biological differences that can impact health outcomes. When looking at cardiovascular disease, for example, women have higher mortality rates than men due to the lack of gender-inclusive heart health research. These gaps mean that the health and safety of more than half the population is at risk.
Share of women in each of the job cluster
Credit: STEM Jobs See Uneven Progress in Increasing Gender, Racial and Ethnic Diversity, Pew Research Center, Washington, D.C. (April 1, 2021)
Homogeneity Perpetuates Homogeneity
Much of the research agrees that the gender gap in STEM is largely fueled by the lack of representation and role models. The Yamada Shintaro D&I Foundation is a Japanese foundation that aims to close the gender gap in STEM fields. Their recent study, Project 0.91%, found that there was little evidence that parental opposition, stereotypes, or cultural issues kept Japanese girls away from STEM. Similarly, the National Girls Collaborative Project, a North American initiative, found that while 86% of girls favor STEM careers that help others, a lack of representation crushes their confidence to pursue STEM. This means that in order to have the largest impact, girls need to be brought to STEM and shown that it is possible for them to become involved.
Credit: Thermo Fisher Scientific
Representation Shows Girls What They Can Achieve
The Foundation’s Girls Meet STEM program works with 38 universities and 232 companies to bring together middle and high school girls with women active in STEM fields, including professionals, researchers, and university students. After participating in a tour, students’ intent to choose a STEM academic track rose by 0.55 points on a 5-point scale while confidence in pursuing a STEM degree jumped by 1 point on a 10-point scale.
Girls’ Day, a similar initiative that offers girls hands-on experience in STEM environments, has also seen massive success in Germany. 70% of the girls who participated found a STEM profession they were interested in, and 46% of participating companies received inquiries about internships and apprenticeships from attendees. A more global initiative, Technovation, introduces girls from ages 8 to 18 to tech entrepreneurs and leaders in over 160 countries. 76% of Technovation alumni pursued a STEM degree, 60% work in a STEM-related position, and 97% say they improved their tech skills and gained more confidence. All these initiatives show that when girls can see themselves in STEM, they are likely to choose it.
Such programs are working, but more may be needed. Project 0.91% says it’s important for the STEM field to reach the “golden ratio” of 30%, as this is the ratio needed for minorities to start making an impact in an organization or field. While grassroots programs such as these are successfully opening doors for women and girls in STEM, the corporate environments must evolve to keep them there. Mid-level and experienced career women consistently exit the field due to the STEM sector’s boys’ club culture. Thus, we must actively dismantle these gendered barriers and hold on to the female leaders who will build a STEM culture that everyone will want to join.
Stay connected on your DEI journey with Learning Cycle. Explore our workshops and success stories to empower your team.
