Gender Gap in the STEM Fields
New Data on STEM Gender Gap
The U.S. Department of Commerce released new data on Wednesday on the gender gap in science and technology fields — stressing the economic impact on women. The study noted that women hold almost half of all jobs in the United States, but less than 25 percent of those in STEM fields. This trend continues even though women in STEM jobs earn 33 percent more, on average, than do women in other fields. And the data show that of those who study STEM fields in college, women are less likely to seek out STEM jobs. Of men with a STEM degree, 40 percent work in science and technology fields, while only 26 percent of comparable women do so.
I feel like this is probably the area that I will work at the most when I get my own classroom. The gap doesn’t stem necessarily from that girls are not as good as science as boys, but rather that they have developed this mental image that scientists are men. Gender equality is already an issue that I’m very passionate about, so I think that this will be a good way for me to make a difference through my career. Other science teachers, how do you encourage your female students to consider choosing a career in the STEM fields?
