Nov. 8 was STEM Day: a day created to celebrate the wonders of science, technology, engineering and math. In the midst of the festivities, I could not help but notice the elephant in the room: Another year has passed and women still find themselves left behind in the STEM field. It's 2024 and women only constitute 35% of the STEM workforce.
This year's statistic is in no way surprising; attempts to balance the STEM demographic are more akin to a war than a sneak attack. Cries to “close the gender gap” have rung out my entire life but, despite their earnesty, I have found myself disinterested in recent years. Continually hearing about an issue that feels in some ways insurmountable leaves many like me comfortably apathetic. After some retrospection, I realized my apathy was the result of resignation, not unconcern. Gender bias and underrepresentation are the unfortunate norms for myself and many of the women around me.
The setbacks women face while pursuing STEM careers are often accepted as “the way things are.” I’ve had friends casually tell me they’re giving up on becoming doctors because of the struggles women face balancing their careers and families. These conversations are often more matter-of-fact than emotional; we talk about abandoning our dreams with the same intonation used to describe burnt toast. In the end, it’s not smooth sailing for those who commit to their dreams either. While STEM environments are perhaps less openly hostile than in the past, gender bias, lack of mentorship and underrepresentation make being a woman in STEM fields isolating. Luckily, the current norms for women do not have to define our future.
The good news is that feeling stuck and being stuck are not synonymous. Though the pace may feel slow, women have been making persistent advancements in STEM fields. While representing 35% of the STEM workforce is not the ultimate goal, it is notable progress from 15 years ago when women only represented 24%. Our achievements should not be dismissed without celebration. As individuals and as a society, we need to renew our investment and push toward a hopeful future.
If you’re like me, you’d like the “hopeful future” to come sooner than later. How can we expedite a more equal and diverse STEM field? According to experts, there are several ways to start. The first step toward advocacy and reform is to spread awareness and educate ourselves. How? Ask the women around you about their experiences in STEM and genuinely listen to their answers. Watch a 10-minute informational video on YouTube. Read this article. After knowledge there can be change.
The next step is reformation in the workplace: HR departments must continually commit to reducing bias, and prejudiced norms must be addressed. If we want change to be comprehensive, both structural and cultural reform is necessary. For example, STEM fields must better accommodate women who need maternity leaves. This is a structural change. However, if a woman is perceived as unambitious or a freeloader for taking maternity leave, no one wins. This is why cultural narratives must change alongside policy.
To truly equalize the STEM workforce, mentorship and female representation must be present for our youth. In the words of Marian Wright Edelman, “you cannot be what you cannot see.” The young learn by modeling the behaviors they witness around them, making it essential to have female STEM workers and teachers present in our schools. It is naive to think that this need for guidance dissolves upon reaching adulthood. A critical roadblock for women entering the workforce is lack of mentorship. Without a community or connections, thriving in STEM fields is challenging. Even after choosing and entering the fields, challenges like these cause women to leave STEM careers at higher rates than men. This trend has been referred to as the “leaky pipeline,” which highlights the critical issue of female staff retention.
There is much to be done before the STEM gender gap can be declared “closed.” You and I alone may not be able to do all the work ourselves, but we can do some of it. More than anything, we must not fall victim to passivity or compassion fatigue. If there is a battle to be fought, no soldiers can sit on the sidelines. This war isn’t confined to women. It includes everyone. There is no such thing as a neutral party on issues of equality: You are either a part of the solution or a part of the problem. The hand women have been dealt is perhaps not what we would choose for ourselves; the long waiting line for change is weighty and tiring. Nevertheless, if 35% can become 36% next year, we’ve done something we can all be proud of.
The Student Movement is the official student newspaper of Andrews University. Opinions expressed in the Student Movement are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors, Andrews University or the Seventh-day Adventist church.