Smashing Glass Ceilings

WHY ARE THERE FEWER WOMEN GOING INTO STEM BASED CAREERS?

In the last decade, there has been a sharp incline in the number of women working in previously male-dominated fields, including: Veterinary Science, Marketing, Medicine, University Lecturing and in the Civil Service. In fact, over 70% of women aged 16–64 are now employed; a percentage which has increased from slightly over half (53%) in 1971. Women now represent just under half (46.5% in 2017) of the total labour force in the UK; however, this increase cannot be seen in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) based professions. Women make up only 14.4% of STEM jobs in the UK, which has not increased for a number of years. So why is this?

Numerous reasons have been suggested to explain why the number of women in STEM jobs has remained stagnant. One of these is socialisation and gender stereotypes. From a young age, children are unconsciously and consciously introduced to the concept of gender and gender based expectations. Children may be shown this via advertising, television or even via parents. This often results in children having preconception of what they can and can’t do, based on how they identify their gender. One study found that by the age of six, girls are already 52% more likely to associate the value of being ‘really smart’ with boys rather than girls. Not only this, but children may also begin to think of certain jobs as more or less suitable depending on gender. This becomes evident later down the

GLASS CEILINGS

line, if we look at University course enrolment for example. Traditionally, more women enrol on Humanities based subjects such as; Secretarial courses, History or English, compared to the high numbers of enrolment in Maths, Science and DT displayed by their male counterparts. These stereotypes may be stopping girls from pursuing STEM based professions at a very young age.

Leading on from on this, another explanation for the lack of women in STEM, is confidence. Quite recently, Dr. Emily Grossman, a figurehead in STEM, visited Pipers Corner and her story is one exemplifying some of the problems. She writes: ‘I was surrounded by predominantly male students and teachers. All the guys seemed so sure of themselves and I was convinced that they understood the material far better than me. Sometimes they laughed when I put my hand up in class or got stuff wrong, and I really lost my confidence.’ The ridicule, and lack of encouragement, became such a problem that Dr. Grossman eventually switched from studying to be a Physicist to studying to become a Biologist.

Lastly, one prominent reason behind the lack of growth in this field seems to be disadvantages concerning childcare and maternity. Childcare is a deterrent for women who might have considered pursuing a career in STEM. Many countries aren’t accommodating towards women who require maternity leave and see them as less committed to their jobs due to this. This, combined with the general feeling that such a male-dominated industry will not be understanding about maternity requirements, makes many female scientists consider other jobs that would accommodate their families better and perhaps have a larger majority of females who would understand the needs of maternity and the time childcare would take out of work hours.

However, it’s not all bad. In 2014, almost as many women with children (74.1%) participated in the labour force as women with no children (75%), suggesting that women do feel that they have options now, when it comes to working after having children. Gender stereotypes are being reprimanded and advertising is becoming, gradually, more gender neutral. Furthermore, there are more female role models in STEM. For example, Professor Dame Carol Robinson, is the first female Professor of Chemistry at the University of Cambridge and mother of two. The Head of Flight Physics and Capability at Airbus is Victoria Cole. These are just two of the many female role models within STEM careers, and these numbers are growing. Another major role model, is the 2018 Nobel Prize winner, Donna Strickland, who won the prize for the invention of Chirped Pulse Amplification in lasers and optics. The late Dr. Nancy Roma, who was considered the ‘Mother’ of the Hubble Telescope, is also a great example of women working in STEM. To conclude, although there are many hurdles still to overcome, there is still hope for a future, one where men and women are in equal amounts in the STEM workforce and, due to organisations such as Coram and Stemettes, that encourage young girls to consider STEM as a possible career path, this future might just be achievable.