Historically, there has been a stigma attached to women working in STEM fields because it is considered a “masculine” line of work and study. This stigma has been fought against for many years, and fortunately today it is much more common to see women in STEM. However, according to a survey conducted by the US Department of Commerce’s Economics and Statistics Administration, in 2009 men held about 76% of STEM jobs, while women held slightly less than a quarter. The report states that the reasons for this unbalance are due to “a lack of female role models, gender stereotyping, and less family-friendly flexibility in the STEM fields”. Women today pursuing a major in a STEM field recognize the disproportionality at their own schools, and often feel as if they do not belong simply because they are women.
I interviewed three female students at Saint Vincent College about their personal experience as a woman working in a STEM field of study.
What is your major?
Student A: Engineering Science.
Student B: Mathematics Engineering.
Why are you pursuing your major?
Student A: I am interested in science and I also enjoy punishing myself for no apparent reason. (LOL! We feel ya. Science is hard!)
Student B: I think there’s a better chance for women in the engineering field to get hired since there aren’t as many women working in it now. I want to be an architect, and Civil Engineering correlates with architecture.
How many women are in your science and math classes compared to the number of men?
Student A: There are 4 girls in my engineering class out of around 20, so about a fifth. I’m also the only girl out of eight people in my engineering lab.
Student B: I’d say like a four. I have only met one other female Mathematics Engineering major and Saint Vincent isn’t a big school. There’s probably a few more somewhere.
What has your experience as a woman been like here at St. Vincent in the science department?
Student A: Mansplaining. Guys over explain things to you because they think you’re dumb.
Student B: I agree. When we’re doing projects, men overtake the groups and don’t trust women to take over the project or lab. Some guys think I can’t handle doing the lab or work just because I’m a girl.
What is some advice you would give to young girls interested in STEM?
Student A: Don’t let a stigma prevent you from doing something you want to do. Just because you’re the only girl in a class doesn’t mean you’re weird. In elementary school, girls get called tomboys if you’re interested in science.
Student B: Don’t be intimidated by guys. Don’t assume men are superior in science.
The most important thing for any woman to remember is that you are not limited to what kind of job or field you want to work in because you are a woman. If you have a dream or goal, pursue it. Don’t let any obstacle, stigma, or person push you away from what you are called to do and to be. At the end of the day, you are the only person who can decide how to live your life.
Link to the US Department of Commerce’s Economics and Statistics Administration 2009 Survey:
http://www.esa.doc.gov/sites/default/files/womeninstemagaptoinnovation83…