In light of the recent celebration of STEM day (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths), an ever-present issue is once again addressed: where are the women in STEM?

In 2015/16, 22,020 women graduated with STEM degrees and rose to 22,340 in 2016/17. This increase is important, yet not enough by any definition. From 2017, women only make up 24% of all STEM degrees.

The number of natural science graduates (across all three sciences) that are women is about 41%, which is, unfortunately, the highest percentage. There are 39% in mathematic sciences, and a dismal 15% and 14% in computer science and engineering.

The cause for this? For as long as girls have been in school, they have been told these subjects are for boys. They have been told that they shouldn’t play with cars and rocket ships, and “wouldn’t you prefer a doll instead?”.

The notion that girls can’t get their hands dirty, can’t be more than just pretty things, can’t be intelligent, inquisitive, and learn that she can be whatever she wants to be, is harmful.

Being a girl studying physics, maths, and computer science, I’ve noticed the severe gender imbalance in my lessons, with girls only making up 25-45% of the lessons, and even less intending to go on to further education in these areas. 4 of my 5 teachers are male.

“Well, why do we need women in STEM?”

Simply put, when you bring a woman into a male-dominated industry, you gain insight from the other half of the population. At the moment, the industry seems to care only hiring women to raise their equality rating, however, it extends much farther than that.

In very recent history, it was discovered that heart disease manifested differently in women than in men, causing treatment to be ineffective and losing many lives due to the all-male research. Drug tests for any illness used to be primarily done on men, by men, causing complications for women who would react differently. The need for women is not exclusive to the medical industry, but its importance has been proven time and time again.

The issue, however, isn’t with men in science - it is the absence of women.

Growing up, I was never taught about female scientists and their mind-blowing discoveries. Movies like “hidden figures”, the “Women of NASA” and female scientists Lego sets, the countless new books for children and older are all helping the visibility of these women’s achievements, but we still have a long way to go.

Margaret Hamilton, the pioneering software engineer that put men on the moon said "Looking back, we were the luckiest people in the world. There was no choice but to be pioneers; no time to be beginners." 

Women have always been instrumental to the scientific world, so dismiss the notion that women can’t be smart as well as beautiful and creative, encourage your friends, your sisters, and your daughters and tell them that intelligence and ambition are to be met with pride, not dismissal.

Give them the opportunities to thrive and watch them be the change we want to see in the world.

Sources:

https://www.stemwomen.co.uk/blog/2018/03/useful-statistics-women-in-stem

https://www.inc.com/sue-williams/why-we-need-women-in-stem.html