The academic fields of science, technology, engineering and math are largely comprised of men. They are extremely male-dominated in both universities and the workforce, with women making up only 29 percent of the science and engineering workforce. Because of this, women in STEM are highly celebrated and sought after. From a young age, women are now being encouraged to pursue careers in STEM, but sometimes the push to end sexism in the STEM field is harmful and sexist in its own way.
In an attempt to bring to light the need for women in STEM, these careers are often portrayed as more important and more valuable than careers that could be pursued from studying liberal arts. Instead of highlighting the fact that the fields are male-dominated and therefore need a female presence, proponents often make the fields out to be better in general. There are many women that do not want to pursue a career in STEM. Women that want to pursue subjects in the humanities, business or art should not be shamed or made to feel like they are letting women down as a whole. To suggest that women have to follow a certain path for their careers to be meaningful is sexist itself, even if it disguises itself as a solution for institutionalized sexism. Even if the majority of women tend to pursue careers other than those in STEM, they are not any less important. These women are not succumbing to sexism, they are just pursuing their individual passions.
This is not to say that the situation as a whole should be ignored. What the American Association of University Women says is true; many women do not pursue careers in STEM due to inaccessibility and male domination. Specifically, women avoid math and science due to the stereotype that they are bad at it. These stereotypes can lead to poor academic performance as well. While most people will deny that this stereotype is true, systematic sexism leads to implicit bias. According to research done by Project Implicit at Harvard, 70 percent of people make the implicit association between men and science-related fields.
There needs to be a medium between doing nothing and making women in STEM out to be inherently better and more “feminist” than those who choose other fields. This can be done by praising successful women in all fields of work, whether it be science, literature or art.
It is also necessary to continue trying to unlearn implicit stereotypes about gender and academic aptitude. No matter what, women should be able to choose to study anything they want without shame or fear that they are letting down their own gender.
emmagetz@umail.iu.edu
