{"id":3708,"date":"2018-11-21T16:38:43","date_gmt":"2018-11-21T16:38:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/copyright.lboro.ac.uk\/students\/?p=3708"},"modified":"2018-11-28T09:54:24","modified_gmt":"2018-11-28T09:54:24","slug":"getting-women-into-stem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.lboro.ac.uk\/students\/engineering\/getting-women-into-stem\/","title":{"rendered":"5 things NOT to do when \u201cGetting Women into STEM\u201d\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019re doing it wrong.\u00a0You see, now is a fantastic time to be a\u00a0young\u00a0woman in\u00a0STEM, and it will probably get even better over the next decade.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Not only\u00a0are western companies\u00a0very\u00a0open to hiring female candidates, but\u00a0the average workplace is also becoming more accepting. There are enormous amounts of free online resources, workshops and outreach initiatives focused on\u00a0encouraging\u00a0female students\u00a0into STEM.<\/p>\n

So why are the numbers of girls choosing the STEM career path still growing very slowly?[1]<\/p>\n

I believe that\u00a0we are\u00a0<\/b>simply\u00a0<\/b>doing it wrong<\/b>.\u00a0We could use an update on the words we use when encouraging girls to get into STEM.<\/p>\n

Note:\u00a0<\/i>The following opinions are my own and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University<\/i>. See footnote*<\/i>.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Some phrases that I\u2019ve heard being used to advertise careers in STEM\u00a0are absolutely hilarious.<\/p>\n

<\/h3>\n

\u201c<\/b>You get to wear a hard-hat!<\/b>\u201d<\/b><\/h3>\n

This is not a great advertisement, as hard-hats mess up your hair and never match your outfit. Safety boots and goggles follow the same principle. And no, those high-heeled safety shoes are never going to be fashionable!\u00a0And no, I should not\u00a0start selling them!<\/p>\n

Even SpaceX\u2019s Gwynne Shotwell says,\u00a0in an interview, that she\u00a0was motivated to become an engineer to be like a female role model, who dressed in\u00a0expensive suits\u00a0and matched purse to shoes\u2026[Symbol]<\/p>\n

Better alternative<\/b>: \u201cYou\u00a0often\u00a0actually spend a lot of time in an office, where you can wear anything you like, including fashionable outfits. There\u00a0are even croissants\u00a0and a subsidised Starbucks, if you are lucky!\u201d<\/p>\n


\n\u201cYou can work in the factory!\u201d<\/b><\/h3>\n

Yes, factories are absolutely amazing (I\u2019m a materials and manufacturing engineer), but they bring to mind dirty and oily\u00a0cells\u00a0operated by men in overalls. This is\u00a0often\u00a0very far from the truth and is not a great advertisement for\u00a0potential\u00a0STEM\u00a0careers.<\/p>\n

Better alternative<\/b>: \u201cSome engineering projects may require you to travel or live abroad in exciting locations. You get to stay in a nice hotel and be a tourist in the evenings!\u201d.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u00a0<\/b>get<\/b>\u00a0to get our hands dirty!<\/b>\u201d<\/b><\/h3>\n

This is the same as point #2. However, it is important to point out that STEM jobs are very varied in their nature. A lot of younger students think that an engineer has to do science experiments all day, yet this is far from the truth. Many students may not be interested in doing the practical work, or in tinkering with dirty engine parts.<\/p>\n

Better alternative:\u00a0<\/b>\u201cAs an engineer, your job will be very varied. You could be talking to scientists in a lab to assess the failure of parts on an airplane or helping develop a research & development strategy for a firm\u201d.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201c<\/b>You can\u00a0<\/b>work with robots, just like the men!\u201d<\/b><\/h3>\n

Robotics are cool, boys are not.\u00a0They have cooties and are generally weird. As a result, a proportion of girls may purposefully be swayed towards\u00a0less male-dominated subjects.<\/p>\n

Better alternative:<\/b>\u00a0\u201cYou can work with robots, they are cool\u201d.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cThere aren\u2019t enough females in STEM!\u201d<\/b><\/h3>\n

While true, this may highlight the male-dominated nature of the industry and deter potential applicants. Instead, focus on the benefits that a career in STEM can offer, such as the average work hours, work benefits, rewarding projects, salary ranges, etc.<\/p>\n

Better alternative:<\/b>\u00a0\u201cThe numbers of women in STEM is growing every year\u2026 You can also get involved in outreach and act as a role model to younger students!\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cSTEM is great, but you<\/b>\u00a0could just go into finance because you\u2019re great with both numbers and people.<\/b>\u201d<\/b><\/h3>\n

Yes, that\u2019s true, but please don\u2019t say this.<\/p>\n

Better alternative:\u00a0<\/b>\u201cAn engineering degree will allow you to pursue a career in any numerical or analytical field, even banking or finance. However, I hope that you will pursue a\u00a0rewarding\u00a0STEM career\u00a0that can help you make the world a better place\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Examples of better\u00a0<\/b>strategies of talking to girls about careers in STEM<\/b>:<\/b><\/p>\n

The\u00a0People Like Me<\/a>\u00a0campaign\u00a0by WISE,\u00a0UK,\u00a0uses the\u00a0concept\u00a0that vocabulary affects the young adult\u2019s sense of \u2018fitting-in\u2019 to a career path. For example, girls are more responsive to adjectives, while boys are more responsive to verbs,\u00a0so\u00a0careful choice of vocabulary may play a part in how we should talk about careers with young adults.<\/p>\n

Multiple academics and parents I\u2019ve interviewed also cite a strategy of focussing\u00a0on\u00a0how STEM helps others and our planet<\/b>. Multiple anecdotal case studies, from university courses to marketing headlines\u00a0also\u00a0show that connecting the helpful and caring nature of some engineering fields can seem more attractive to females than traditional fields, such as construction.<\/p>\n

Further resources\u00a0on\u00a0the topic of Women in STEM and relevant activities:<\/p>\n