Recently, I have been spearheading a campaign aimed to increase the visibility of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Although I have always been aware of the relatively low number of tenured female professors in both my graduate school and here at RU, I really began to think about it after learning that females only make up 13% of the RU faculty body. As someone who often blogs about gender issues in science, this statistic really sparked my interest. So, I decided to look into it more.

Several U.S. government agencies including the Census Bureau, the National Science Foundation, and the Bureau of Labor Statistics have broadly defined what it is to be a STEM professional and have estimated that approximately 21 million people make up the STEM workforce. Despite only making up a small percentage of the American workforce, occupations in STEM are growing in number and the US Department of Labor has projected that many science and engineering jobs will increase at a rate that is above average for all occupations. Therefore, STEM professionals are critical players for economic innovation. Even President Obama, in his 2011 State of the Union Address, declared that now is our nation’s “Sputnik moment.” He further elaborated by saying that “we’ll invest in biomedical research, information technology and especially clean energy technology – an investment that will strengthen our security, protect our planet, and create countless new jobs for our people.”

Although the STEM playing field has been evolving, it is still overwhelmingly male. With a 22% projected growth in STEM occupations by 2014, it seems that women could be missing out on a number of job opportunities. Despite the statements made by former Harvard University President Lawrence Summers, females are just as competent as males when it comes to STEM. However, research has shown that the negative stereotypes surrounding the ability of girls to compete with their male counterparts in STEM subjects can significantly affect female academic performance.

Of course these discrepancies bring with them a multitude of moral, ethical, and financial consequences, creating a steep climb for female STEM professionals. The U.S. government and various organizations have recognized these issues and have recently launched several programs aimed to encourage young girls to study subjects relating to STEM. Furthermore, Working Mother Magazine recently highlighted the Most Powerful Moms in STEM, bringing to light that being a mother and a successful career woman was within the realm of possibility. However, if we are to really make an impact, we need to work at getting more STEM females in the spotlight. Not only would this help to encourage young girls to go into STEM, it would also set an example for young boys and, hopefully, dilute the negative stereotypes associated with girls and cognitive ability.

OK, I am nearing the point where I will tell you about what I want to do about this. Sure, we need to consider that institutional and national policies need to be put into place to help women progress in the STEM workplace. But, why not do something on a smaller level as well? In the AAUW (define) report entitled “Why So Few?” the disparity between men and women in STEM fields is addressed:

This study tackles this puzzling question and presents a picture of what we know—and what is still to be understood—about girls and women in scientific fields. The report focuses on practical ways that families, schools, and communities can create an environment of encouragement that can disrupt negative stereotypes about women’s capacity in these demanding fields. By supporting the development of girls’ confidence in their ability to learn math and science, we help motivate interest in these fields. Women’s educational progress should be celebrated, yet more work is needed to ensure that women and girls have full access to educational and employment opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. (Emphasis added)
So to help spread the word about women’s educational progress in STEM, I invite anyone and everyone to tell us about an inspirational lady STEM in your life. Please send your stories to and I will post them on my blog, The Mother Geek, as they come (http://www.science3point0.com/themothergeek). I look forward to your participation and can’t wait to learn about the incredible women who are paving the way for STEM gender equality, whether it is their intention or not.

References and further reading

1. The US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics: “STEM” Occupations and Job Growth
2. Most Powerful Moms in Stem, on Working Mother Magazine
3. AAUW Spotlight on STEM, Winter 2011
4. AAUW report, “Why So Few?”