Why are we still failing to attract and retain Women in STEM?

Victoria MacLennan

This talk is for you!

STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics“Women remain underrepresented in the science and engineering workforce, although to a lesser degree than in the past, with the greatest disparities occurring in engineering, computer science, and the physical sciences.”NSF, Science and Engineering Indicators 2016

Top Three Things we can all do1.Encourage Girls and Women

○to apply○to be seen as role models

2.Change our Language○get to know your own

biases3.Be Supportive

○ in the workplace○ in study

Impostor Syndrome is a real thing

Women told me how I made them feel.Men commented on how interesting it was a woman won the ward.

1.Encourage Girls and Women○to apply○to be seen as role models

All Dilbert Cartoons courtesy of Dilbert.com who own the copyright.

“If girls can see it, they can be it.”

“Girls need role models so they can see the possibilities STEM careers offer!”

“why girls may not go into engineering; reasons such as peer pressure, poor career advice, stereotypical preconceptions andcollege environment”Quotes from a range of studies into STEM funnel challenges.

2.Change our Language○get to know your own

biases

Please don’tUse Male normative words eg: Mate or ladsGreet a room with “Gentlemen” Use endearing greetings eg: Honey, LoveDescribe a team as “work hard, play hard”, ninja’s, risk takersAssume the woman in the room holds an administrative roleAssume women aren’t as capable as their colleagues

Use insteadCollaborative language eg: inclusive, consultative Inspiring language eg: purpose, innovativeProvide girls and women with equal opportunities to speak / ask and answer questionsProvide girls and women with challenging problems to solve

3.Be Supportive○ in the workplace○ in study

Challenges identified speaking to women in New Zealand.

Young women in University education challenges:➢ The boys make sarcastic comments when I get the highest grade in the

class.➢ There were 30 girls in year 1 of my (Software Engineering) class now there

are only 10 in year 3➢ The lecturer never calls on me to ask or answer questions➢ My male tutor doesn’t make eye contact with me➢ I had to drop out because the university didn’t offer childcare and I

couldn’t secure a place that worked with my course timetableChallenges from women returning to work:➢ I was offered 25% less salary than when I left the workforce 2 years ago.➢ Technology has moved on so quickly in 5 years and employers keep

saying my skills are out of date➢ My manager schedules meetings that start 30 minutes before I need to

leave to pick up children which often causes me to leave the meeting early or be late for my children

➢ I really want to job share with someone but employers don’t want 2 x part time people

➢ My employer wouldn’t let me return to my old role part-time so I had to resign.

Top Three Things we can all do1.Encourage Girls and Women

○to apply○to be seen as role models

2.Change our Language○get to know your own

biases3.Be Supportive

○ in the workplace○ in study

“If girls can see it, they can be it.”

Investments

Pro-bono Initiatives I am involved with tackling these issues Digital Technology

Curriculum Reference Group