Science and technology is a dynamic field that is constantly evolving and growing, but in one aspect it seems to remain stagnant and that is the gender disparity that exists to this day. Even today, only one in three scientists (33 percent) are women, as reported by a UNESCO Science Report 2021. This not only does lasting damage to women in the short term but also hinders the development of societies, innovation, and more, in the long term.
Let us explore why women are so underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The low engagement of girls and women in science can be attributed to myriad reasons, such as the gender stereotype that has existed for generations in households and educational institutions which mandates that boys are better suited for science and more likely to succeed in STEM-based occupations.
This belief also leads to people believing that since STEM careers are highly male-dominated areas, they are not an appropriate area or career path for women to enter or work in. Cultural attitudes like the ideology that investing in a boy’s education rather than a girl’s education would be more beneficial and give higher returns, is also another reason why girls systemically lose out on the opportunity to study.
The consequences of these stereotypes and cultural attitudes are dire, as they withhold the growing economic opportunities that are being generated due to the increase of digitized economies, from women. It also leads to harmful technology like algorithms that discriminate against women searching for jobs.
They deny girls the basic right to education, as Article 21-A and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act which came into effect on 1st April 2010 stipulate. These Acts provide ‘free and compulsory’ education for all children between the age of six and fourteen years, making it a Fundamental Right. The current ruling dispensation started a women empowerment campaign named “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” in 2015 to address the education of girls.
Continue reading: https://feminisminindia.com/2022/07/11/women-in-stem-digital-technology-can-aid-in-reducing-gender-gap/
Let us explore why women are so underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The low engagement of girls and women in science can be attributed to myriad reasons, such as the gender stereotype that has existed for generations in households and educational institutions which mandates that boys are better suited for science and more likely to succeed in STEM-based occupations.
This belief also leads to people believing that since STEM careers are highly male-dominated areas, they are not an appropriate area or career path for women to enter or work in. Cultural attitudes like the ideology that investing in a boy’s education rather than a girl’s education would be more beneficial and give higher returns, is also another reason why girls systemically lose out on the opportunity to study.
The consequences of these stereotypes and cultural attitudes are dire, as they withhold the growing economic opportunities that are being generated due to the increase of digitized economies, from women. It also leads to harmful technology like algorithms that discriminate against women searching for jobs.
They deny girls the basic right to education, as Article 21-A and the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act which came into effect on 1st April 2010 stipulate. These Acts provide ‘free and compulsory’ education for all children between the age of six and fourteen years, making it a Fundamental Right. The current ruling dispensation started a women empowerment campaign named “Beti Bachao Beti Padhao” in 2015 to address the education of girls.
Continue reading: https://feminisminindia.com/2022/07/11/women-in-stem-digital-technology-can-aid-in-reducing-gender-gap/
