Underrepresentation Of Women

Women are severely underrepresented in STEM careers. Whether it is due to biased opinions or lack of representation, it has become a problem in all parts of the world. As Nnachi and his colleagues said in their published article, “In our society today, most people attribute science and technology fields with ‘males’ and humanities and arts fields with ‘females’”. These endless biases negatively affect women and put an unfair stereotype on them. These
(Newmark) women are expected to work in more laid-back and less grueling careers. It is known that women worldwide are not being represented enough in physical sciences and traditionally male-dominated jobs (McCullough).The issue of women's underrepresentation in these careers is poorly affecting
Although men still overpower women in the involvement of STEM, women have become overrepresented in the life sciences such as biology and social sciences like psychology. Yet, on the other hand, the gap between women and men in physics, engineering, and computer science is growing and becoming more prominent (McCullough). According to Martin, “the percentage of women choosing math and science courses dropped by four percent from 1993 to 1999”. This goes to prove that more taxing and demanding courses of study such as math or physics are being disregarded by women more and more. To elaborate, women make up more than half of the college-educated populace, but only
(Gentry) make up 24% of the STEM workforce (Gentry). Overall, forty percent of women are represented in the life sciences and sixty percent have a career in social sciences. These two fields have been adequately represented in our society (Martin). However, the most concerning part is the lack of women in engineering, computer and mathematical sciences. With only fifteen percent of women, engineering is by far the least represented STEM career. Computer and mathematical sciences are next with only twenty-five percent of the female populace involved
This standing stereotype is a result of years and years of a male-dominated society. Women were looked upon as an object of men, and it has been tough trying to break that outlook (Martin). Women are subject to multiple different biases and stereotypes that they must fight on a day-to-day basis. The expectations that surround women are abundantly sexist and still common. Although women have achieved their rights and are allowed to work wherever they please, women in society are still expected to stay home and raise children in some places (Nnachi). What is more, a substantial obstacle in any working women’s life is the choice between children or career. A great deal believe that they cannot possibly do both (McCullough). Albeit not true, this is a vast turn-off for women looking into these careers who desire a family. Additionally, women who are in jobs of STEM are often perceived as ‘masculine’ or ‘unladylike’ and this accounts for some of the avoidance of these careers (Nnachi). Women are not expected to be assertive or aggressive in their careers (McCullough). Stereotypes in the minds of many have created an image of women that has shaped how people think of them and what they think they should be doing. Namely, women have always been depicted as docile and obedient, and being anything other than that is a put-off. Moreover, women with the