The Gender Gap ANd The Experience

The Gender Gap

What is the Gender Gap?

The gender gap is a term used to describe the discrepancies in men and women in regards to opportunities, attitudes, status, etc. . It was first recognized in America during the 1980 presidential election when women’s rights issues like abortion became a debate between the two candidates, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. The gender gap can be economically, educationally, or geographically based, along with many other reasons for the stark differences in men and women present in the respective fields. Historically, women have been less educated than men, not because of lacking intelligence or capability, but because of their limited opportunities, being traditional primary caretakers and homemakers. Women were not initially integrated into the workforce, stunting the progression of the female presence from early on. The culmination of societal disadvantages and social expectations that women have to endure also play a role in the gender gap and its width. This trend of late integration continues to impact women to this day, as they are still fighting for equality and representation in many spaces.

A counter argument surrounding why women aren’t as involved in STEM as men are is based on intellectual capability. Some believe that men are inherently more intelligent than women, consequently, that being the reason they do not “make it” in these fields. It has been shown that there is no inherent difference in intelligence levels between men and women; men just test better because of their long-term encouragement and preparation. It has also been found that women perform better when being tested related to verbal ability, while men perform better spatial ability-related tasks. These differences in performance do not indicate that there is an intelligence discrepancy, just that there is a difference of strengths and applications.

The Gender Gap in STEM by Nicole Serrano (TEDx Talks)

Note: The video description states, "why is there gender inequality in the fields of STEM? Nicole Serrano, a sophomore at College Prep answers this question, drawing from her personal experiences with sexism, historical examples of sexist actions concerning men who have made important or even revolutionary scientific discoveries, and studies showing sexual discrimination in the workplace and in technology. But what can be done about these factors leading to gender inequality? Nicole also proposes solutions and actions that can be taken to help girls go into STEM from a young age and keep women in STEM careers in adulthood... Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx" - TEDx Talks

The Experience

Personal Anecdotes and Perspectives:

(Vanessa)

When I was 17, I decided I wanted to be a scientist. It was a pivotal moment for me, as I didn’t know who I wanted to be or where I wanted to go, but knowing I wanted to be a scientist was a start. As I grew older, I sat in my AP Biology class. I could picture myself in this environment, which I had never really experienced before, not having a specific passion for anything. The excitement of having a path was something new and I was ready to embrace it. In Spanish class, we were giving a presentation on our future careers to the class. Career choices ranged from teacher to chef, businessman to a physicist, which wasn’t unexpected as we were all going in different directions after high school. When I presented and revealed that I wanted to be a scientist, one of the kids in the back, a popular football jock, proceeded to laugh and joke with his friends about my dream of going into STEM. At first, I couldn’t understand that they were laughing at my career dream because how was that any different than saying I wanted to be a teacher? Or a nurse? This was one of the first times my eyes were opened to this stereotype of women in STEM. I want to understand the gender gap in STEM education and expose the leaks in the pipeline.

"Think science, think male": Bridging the gender STEM gap

"Toni Schmader, the Canada Research Chair in Social Psychology at the University of British Columbia, joins us to discuss the deep-rooted biases affecting women in STEM fields, and how fostering allyship among male colleagues may hold the answer." - INSEAD

Note: In this interview, Dr. Schmader discussed how biases formed the STEM Industry's culture: "men do science" and how it affects women in the field and classroom. Her research has found that women commonly experience gender bias similarly to Vanessa's story.

Being a first-generation college student while also being a woman in STEM, is a daunting task for an 18-year old. When I left my hometown to go to an unfamiliar place with people I didn’t know, I added that pressure on top of going to a male-dominated school. Not only did I know nobody at WPI yet, but the fear of potentially not being around other women whom I can find solidarity in. Luckily, WPI has done a good job at evening out “the ratio” of men: women, having there be a 60:40 ratio in 2020, which has arguably become more equal as the year passed. When WPI was first founded in 1865, it was a men-only institution, allowing women to attend around 1972, when the first female graduated from WPI. This late progression shows how large the gap between men and women in STEM is 100 years later, when the first women were allowed to attend WPI. As the attendance rates for women increased, the gap became something that isn’t really noticeable at WPI. Of course, there are instances where you may be one of three women in a certain class, but it is not as common as it once was. Living in our own little “WPI bubble” has made us blind to some of the realities of women in STEM. At WPI, women are pushed, encouraged, and supported to enter STEM fields that interest them, which takes away the added strain of advocating for themselves. Encouragement and support is just the first step for women. How they are treated, and the stereotypes present against women is the next hurdle that women have to tackle alone. This drop of support can cause women to not pursue their dream, fearing lack of support will be detrimential to their career. There are no consequences for intentionally or unintentionally treating a woman differently in an academic environment. These microaggressions are present and can be a deterrent for women to continue.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse