International Day of Women and Girls in Science

1/2/2021

Inequality of Women and Girls in Science

All over the world, less than 30% of researchers in the science field are women. This shows that there is still a gross underrepresentation of female students and employees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) related fields (UNESCO, 2019). Less than a third of female students go on to study higher education courses in science subjects like engineering and maths. Furthermore, women in STEM fields publish less than their male counterparts and often receive less pay see weforum.org, 2020.

Women and Girls in Science - Saharan Africa

girl wearing goggles holding a test tube

A UNESCO report estimates that In Sub-Saharan Africa, only 30% of researchers are women with a gender disparity very clear in disciplines such as mathematics, engineering, and computer science. These women are not only paid less, they do not progress well in their careers as much as their male counterparts. Low-income countries tend to have the lowest ratios of women to men as researchers in the science field. The percentage for some African countries are South Africa 43.7%; Egypt 42.8%; Morocco 30.2%; Senegal 24.9%; Nigeria 23.3%; Rwanda 21.8%, Cameroon 21.8%, Ethiopia 31.3%, Sub-Saharan Africa 31.3%.

Gender Biases Discouraging Women and Girls from Science

The impediments women and girls face range from social and environmental factors, negative attitudes towards STEM, bias, and discrimination to low self-assessment of girls. There are persistent stereotypes within schools and families that boys are better than girls at science and mathematics and can succeed more in science-based jobs. It is also believed that women cannot benefit from the heavily male-dominated STEM careers and it is not suitable for them as it is not family-friendly. Furthermore, some cultures believe that investing in girls’ education is not as important as that of boys. These all discourage many women and girls from science and it needs to be properly addressed to secure the future of women in science.

How to Gain Equal Access and Participation for Women and Girls in Science

Gaining full and equal access and participation for women and girls in science is a long and multifaceted process.

One way is by providing scholarships and general educational services that are gender-sensitive so that girls can be encouraged to go to school and undergo the necessary training. There are also medium to long-term approaches to encourage participation.
All these have to be started at the basic level by creating opportunities that enable girls to complete basic education to start with. Then, the educational system needs to be reformed such that girls are encouraged to interact with science and technology from a young age.
Not only this, science subjects need to be made attractive and relevant for women and girls. Mentorship and role model programs need to also be encouraged whenever possible.
Lastly, efforts need to be put in place at the grassroots to change attitudes and social norms about women and girls regarding science being technical or male-dominated.

Opportunities in Science for Women and Girls

It is projected that in the US alone, over 50% of new job growth in the next couple of years will require science and technology degrees. While women and girls have found it difficult to break into many STEM fields in the past, there are lots of self-evident reasons to pursue opportunities in science. Obtaining a degree in science or STEM strongly indicates financial success. The starting and mid-level salaries for STEM careers are higher than non-science jobs.
Moving away from the issue of financial gain and job security, science-related fields need women as the majority of people in this field are men. This means that the area is lacking the unique perspective, experience, and creativity of the other half of the population.

How to Break the Barriers and Overcoming Challenges in Pursuing a Career in Science

Other than being determined in the face of daunting challenges and obstacles:

Girls need to seek out advisors in the field they want to choose and participate in out of field learning so as to get a broader experience of the chosen field early enough.
In terms of financial challenges, girls and women should seek out scholarship programs specifically tailored to encourage women to enter the field.
Women and girls need to be told that success doesn’t come easy and risks and opportunities are often closely linked. Self-confidence is important for girls seeking to start a career in science.
On the part of the government and ministry of education in developing countries especially, more awareness needs to be made on the availability of scholarship opportunities and encouraging women and girls to apply.

You'd be interested in our other blogs