STEM of Growth: Women in Science and Technology

Science is a field where ideas and phenomena have a clear, correct answer. However, when it comes to the involvement of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM), scientific institutions and organizations do not seem to have a direct response to improve the situation. Today, there is an evident gender gap in STEM; women account for less than a third of jobs in science and research development, and despite very similar test scores, men make up the majority of STEM students in higher education. It is time that the scientific community responds to gender inequality in STEM. I decided to talk with some of the most dedicated people I know-my friends Aariana, Alaina, Bianca, and Meghan- about their experiences as women in STEM programs at university.

Women in STEM have their own unique pathways into their chosen field. For Aariana and Alaina, this journey took different twists and turns. Aariana describes it as a “process” for herself, where she tried new classes and clubs that exposed her to the field of software engineering, which she now studies at the University of Waterloo. Alaina saw a new ground for science when entering high school: “It was the first time I was exposed to the concept of STEM. When I was in elementary school, the things that you got exposed to were doctor, lawyer, teacher.” For Bianca, her love for science was sparked in childhood, with dreams to become a paleontologist.

Their interest in STEM was encouraged by personal relationships and ground-breaking female scientists. Family and friends opened their eyes to a world that was within reach. In some cases, it seems the world was giving them a sign to take this path. On a day she felt particularly down, a Google doodle perked Bianca’s interest; it turned out to be Romanian civil and geological engineer Elisa Leonida Zamfirescu, who shares Bianca’s heritage and chosen field of study. Today, Bianca is studying geological engineering at the University of Waterloo. However, the history of women in STEM is often delegated to the sidelines, making it difficult to find role models for many women looking to study science. Meghan cites the historical context of scientific discovery in her difficulties trying to find inspirations from the past: “The lack of recognition for women, the neglect of minority groups, the abuse of power…it was mainly white men at the forefront of making scientific discoveries.”

As they entered the world of STEM, however, challenges would arise. After a long process throughout high school, Alaina finally found her interest in the mechatronics engineering program at the University of Waterloo. She would soon find backlash from her male peers in extracurricular activities and classes. On her robotics team, tensions built after she was accepted into the program: “And suddenly, I was this problem in their lives because I had something they didn't, I had something they wanted that they couldn't have.” She even recalls an incident in her computer engineering class where a male counterpart who was not accepted into the same program told her she got in just because she was a girl. Bianca recognized implicit messages from those in her life trying to deter her from her chosen path. While she was interested in her chosen field for many years, she got many comments saying she was “wasting her potential” going into geological engineering. She remained confident in her decision, but felt her judgement was being questioned as a woman.

It soon became quite an intimidating process as well. Imposter syndrome is one way to describe their feelings-where one believes they are less competent than they are, that they do not deserve to be where they are. Aariana experienced imposter syndrome entering her program, surrounded by peers who already had tech internships under their belts: “I was intimidated initially, and I was questioning myself-do I even belong among all these people?” Meghan even notes that being a woman in STEM can be lonely when you are lacking female support: “I don't want to be alone or pursue a lifestyle where I won't have any friends or people to relate to because I was already noticing a lot of my male friends just couldn't understand things I was trying to express to them.” Co-op work positions made Alaina feel isolated and left out by her male co-workers, who took a majority of tasks and left her and her female co-worker with jobs like cleaning up the office.

When looking at the makeup of men to women in their programs and faculty, the gender gap becomes even more clear. Females make up 19.4% of Alaina’s class-this is the largest group of females the program has ever seen. In Aariana’s class of 100, there are 30 female students. Most have only had one or two female professors, and Bianca notes that, for her, these female professors came from departments like geography and English. They even interact with their female professors in different ways because of this. Meghan shares that she and her friends idolize their female professors because there are so few of them. The names and titles of female professors are often diminished to nicknames or their first names as well, according to Bianca and Alaina.

Is STEM all doom and gloom for women though? Despite their experiences, the four of them remain dedicated to their chosen fields. Aariana loves the community of women that has been built in her program, and notes that their female associate program director is trying to set up a women in software engineering group. Meghan, who studies environmental science at McMaster University, finds community and her passion in attending climate rallies. While Alaina wishes the university would do more to foster effective spaces for women in STEM, she sees a groundswell of work being done by students to make STEM more inclusive. Bianca is one of those students, working to get more women in STEM through the Engineering Outreach program.

They hope to inspire more women and girls to enter STEM in the future. Sometimes, it can be difficult. However, Bianca believes that when you do feel intimidated, you have to “fake it ‘till you make it.” For Alaina, it is all about being involved and surrounding yourself with those that support you-like she did in high school when she was trying to find her path. While STEM is a fulfilling part of life, Aariana notes that it does not define you; rather, it makes up a part of your vibrant personality as a woman. Meghan says that there are many women in STEM that feel this way, and that creating a community with them can ease imposter syndrome and feelings of isolation.

Being a woman in STEM is not an easy road. Like most institutions today, patriarchal attitudes are deeply rooted in the scientific academy. With people like Aariana, Alaina, Bianca, and Meghan leading the way, however, I have a lot more hope that STEM can become a more welcoming community for girls. They are so involved and are committed to making STEM a place where women and their ideas are embraced. Women are multi-faceted and powerful, and they bring so much to the table of scientific discovery. One thing is definitely clear for the very near future-women are the phenomenon that will take the world of STEM by storm.