1.7 Participation of women in STEM
Gender inequality and gender stereotyping exists across all sectors and spheres of society. The rest of the course will focus specifically on the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) sector.
Activity 11
What do you know about the STEM sector?
| Question | Your guess |
| How many construction trade workers are women in the UK? | |
| What percentage of those working in the STEM sector in Scotland are women? | |
| What is women’s participation in STEM estimated to be worth per annum to the Scottish economy? | |
| How many new engineers by 2020 in Scotland are estimated to be needed? | |
| How many women who graduate from university in STEM subjects remain in the industry? |
(Source: www.equatescotland.org.uk/ [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] )
Answer
| Question | Answer |
| How many construction trade workers are women in the UK? | 2% |
| What percentage of those working in the STEM sector in Scotland are women? | 25% |
| What is women’s participation in STEM estimated to be worth per annum to the Scottish economy? | £170 million |
| How many new engineers by 2020 in Scotland are estimated to be needed? | 140,000 |
| How many women who graduate from university in STEM subjects remain in the industry? | 27% |
We’ve already noted that there is no gender difference in maths ability and that in early years and through primary school, girls generally have the same interest in science.
However, as school progresses and as pupils get older, girls become far less likely to identify with science and to express ambition to have a STEM career. By the time pupils make subject choices, they have largely opted out of STEM choices. In 2014 in Scotland, girls represented only:
- 7% of entries for Higher in Technological Studies
- 20% of entries for Higher Computing
- 28% of entries for Higher Physics
- 3% of engineering modern apprentices
(Education Scotland, Sept 2015)
It’s not surprising then that women are still underrepresented in STEM sectors, particularly in leadership positions or that the UK has the lowest proportion of female engineers in the EU.
Activity 12
What’s the problem with female underrepresentation in STEM?
Note down what you think is the harm in female underrepresentation in STEM?
Discussion
Underuses women’s potential
Is bad for the economy because the sector is approaching a skills crisis and not recruiting women is a missed opportunity to meet the demand for STEM growth.
Reserves well-paid jobs for men
Perpetuates harmful gender stereotypes
Missed opportunity in addressing skills gap
Limits opportunities for both genders - if only men can work in STEM then they aren’t as likely to work in other professions, such as nursing or teaching
You can read more about the above in this briefing document.
1.6 The role of the classroom in challenging stereotypes