Women deterred from science and IT jobs

Science and IT jobs

According to research, women and ethnic minorities are being actively discouraged from pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), despite rising numbers of them studying these subjects at university.

A recent survey commissioned by the Bayer Corporation and conducted by Campos Inc. found that the American education system is largely to blame for this trend, with 60 percent of the women and ethnic minorities questioned saying that they were persuaded against finding careers in the STEM sectors when they attended a US college. Of those surveyed, 44 percent claimed that college professors were the most responsible for discouraging them from entering STEM fields.

"If we want to achieve true diversity in America's STEM workforce, we must first understand the root causes of under-representation and the ongoing challenges these groups face," said Greg Babe, president and CEO of the Bayer Corporation. "We want to knock down barriers. If we can do that, we'll be able to develop the attitudes, behaviors, opportunities and resources that lead to success."

The Bayer Facts of Science Education XIV survey polled 1226 female, African-American, Hispanic and American Indian chemists and chemical engineers about their childhood, academic and workplace experiences that play a role in attracting and retaining women and underrepresented minorities in STEM fields.

The survey revealed that, regardless of gender, race or ethnicity, interest in science begins at an early age, with 60 percent of respondents reporting an initial attraction to the sciences by the age of 11.

"This and previous Bayer Facts surveys confirm something I've long known - that interest in science is genderless and colorless," said Dr. Mae C. Jemison, an astronaut, chemical engineer and medical doctor who has been a spokesperson for Bayer Corporation's science outreach program for many years. "All children have an innate interest in science and the world around them. But for many children, that interest hits roadblocks along an academic system that is still not blind to gender or color."

Why so few?

Although women and ethnic minorities comprise two thirds of the American workforce, they represent less than 25 percent of STEM careers. Dr. Jemison backed up the findings of the Bayer Corporation's survey, saying that she too had been met with discrimination and discouragement when she was an undergraduate at university, with professors seeming far from enthusiastic having her in their classes. "It ranged from looking at me when I would ask a question as though something was very strange and then some other student would ask the same question and the teacher would say, 'This is an astute observation.'"

The Bayer Corporation's study found that the trend is social and cultural, citing opposing trends in other countries around the world. In India, for example, the educational qualifications of women studying STEM subjects is reflected in the number of women working in STEM careers.

This observation has been echoed by another recent survey conducted by the American Association of University Women. The study, entitled "Why so few?" compiled academic research from the last 15 years and its co-author, Andresse St. Rose, said that although girls earn equally high maths credits as boys whilst at school, the myth that girls are naturally worse at the subject is powerful and persistent.

"Because of that negative stereotype, girls are more likely to believe that they are less able in math compared to boys who have similar grades and tests scores in math," says Ms. St. Rose.

She is, however, hopeful that this situation can be reversed. "We believe that people can reset their biases by taking a proactive step, choosing to educate themselves more about women in these fields, by putting up positive images of women in science in their classrooms and in their homes."

During a discussion about the "Why so few?" findings, another of its co-author's suggested that STEM corporations themselves need to take action to encourage more women and ethnic minorities to apply for their career vacancies. Change, said Ms. St. Rose, needs to be implemented at every level of education, as well as workplaces. Initiatives will only be successful, she said, if they are introduced from "kindergarten through 12th grade teachers and guidance counselors, college and university administrators and certainly employers and policymakers."

"These roadblocks have nothing to do with intellect, innate ability or talent," Dr. Jemison said. "On the contrary, they are the kinds of larger, external socio-cultural and economic forces that students have no control over. As students, they cannot change the fact that they do not have access to quality science and math education in their schools. But adults can. And we must."

Related News:

Jobs of the future |The best jobs in the America |Disabled immigrants getting jobs |Jobs without a future

Like this article? Get the RSS feed: