Women in STEM Guide
Women in STEM: Bridging the Gap
Despite an increase in awareness regarding gender inequity, women are still underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers.
The good news is that more companies are recruiting women for STEM positions than ever before. The following guide introduces the issues surrounding the lack of women in STEM fields and serves as a resource for girls and young women who are interested in pursuing careers in STEM.
It includes in-depth research and interviews covering the most popular degrees for women currently entering a STEM field, how campuses are making an effort to foster a welcoming environment for women, female STEM pioneers and experts in the field today, and scholarships for women in STEM.
Attracting Girls to STEM
Schools and communities need to create STEM programming that engages girls earlier in their elementary and secondary-school education to shift the current dynamic. U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s STEM Gateways Act is an attempt to provide federal grants for programs in elementary, middle and high school, with the goal of creating opportunities in STEM fields for girls, minorities and children from all economic backgrounds. It includes after-school opportunities and supports career exploration and workforce training for high school students. Across the country, schools and communities have begun adopting programs and initiatives to attract more girls to STEM, as early in their academic careers as possible.
- The American Association of University Women
AAUW has committed to building a STEM Pipeline for Girls and Women with a multipronged strategy that includes research, programs for girls and investing in STEM education where women have been fundamentally misrepresented.
- Million Women Mentors
MWM is an engagement campaign and national call-to-action that seeks to engage higher education groups, corporations, nonprofit organizations and the government to create mentoring opportunities for girls and young women in STEM fields. It aims to counter negative stereotypes and give young women the confidence to pursue STEM education.
- National Girls Education Project
NGEP is dedicated to bringing together organizations to maximize STEM resources for school counselors that they can share with female students. The group is also focused on delivering information and resources through webinars, mini-grants and professional development forums.
- Girls Go Techbridge
Various Girl Scout Councils throughout the country partner with Girls Go Techbridge, offering “Programs in a Box.” These boxes store all the materials necessary to implement STEM lessons to groups of up to 10 girls, including leader guides, activities and icebreakers.
- Smith Summer Science and Engineering Program
A four-week residential program each July for female high school students that provides the opportunity to do hands-on research with Smith faculty in life/physical sciences and engineering.
- It’s a Girl Thing
Texas Tech University offer K-8 and high school students a residential camping experience while experiencing university life, recreational activities and hands-on classes ranging from nano-energy to animal science.
- Survey the World of Engineering
High school students can participate in a one-week camp for young women to develop creativity and visit corporate engineering plants to meet professional engineers.
- G.R.A.D.E. CAMP
Girls entering 8th to 12th grade can find out what engineering is all about in this program that emphasizes career exposure rather than career choice, working in teams and gaining valuable insight from Houston-area female engineers.
- CURIE Academy
Several schools, including Cornell, Rutgers and the College of New Jersey, sponsor CURIE Academy, a one-week summer residential program for high school girls who excel in math and science.
- Girlgeneering
Girls entering 5th through 9th grade are invited to Girlgeneering at the University of Texas at Arlington. The camp strives to increase the interest of high ability young women in a career in engineering by combating stereotypes, creating connections, reducing the issue of competition for resources with boys, and demonstrating the real-world social impact of engineering.
Spotlight on: Pretty Brainy
Pretty Brainy inspires girls academically and professionally, with the goal of helping them to gain the confidence to deepen their knowledge in STEM. The organization promotes the enhancement of learning, critical thinking and student engagement, focusing on problem-solving, risk-taking and innovation. The Colorado nonprofit was founded on the following principles:
- Keep girls as strong and confident in their STEAM abilities in middle and high school as they are in elementary school.
- Stamp out, for all time, notions that girls “can’t do math” and aren’t interested in the “hard” sciences.
- Equip girls with the STEAM learning each one needs to believe in the beauty of her dreams and pursue her greatest ambitions.
Pretty Brainy offers several workshops including Pretty Brilliant, where middle and high school girls team up with university students to design the lighting for a Habitat for Humanity home for a single mother and her children. Other programs include Textiles + TechStyles: Electronic Textiles and Design Thinking and Textiles + TechStyles: E-Textile Jewelry Design.
Educators can order Fashionably Mashes: The Stem of Fashion Design, a teacher-designed learning kit to successfully engage students underrepresented in STEM learning. The kit is designed to help teachers implement lessons that show designers are knowledgeable about math, science, technology, history, environmental studies, human behavior, art and more.
How Parents Can Encourage Their Daughters in STEM
STEM Scholarships for Women
Degree Trends for Women in STEM
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) reports that the top STEM sectors for women are biological sciences, computer science/technology, engineering and math. The number of women entering professions in some of these sectors is on the rise, while other sectors continue to show disproportionate numbers. Based on their research, the NCES has made predictions regarding where the numbers appear to be heading in the next 15-20 years.
Fraction of Bachelor’s Degrees in STEM Disciplines Earned by Women
STEM = Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics
Biological Sciences
More women major in the biological sciences than any other STEM field. In fact, women earn over half of the bachelor’s degrees awarded in the biological sciences – about 59 percent. Despite these relatively high numbers, there are gender-based gaps in class participation and achievement. Researchers with Arizona State University and the University of Washington found even with similar GPAs, female students scored 2.9 percent lower than male students on exams. When asked questions by the instructor, 63 percent of males volunteered responses although they only comprised 40 percent of the classroom.
Dr. Penny Rheingans, Professor of Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at the University of Maryland, acknowledges that, while all students may stumble, young women often have a more difficult time brushing themselves off. “It’s what happens next that’s important. Women tend to internalize mistakes while male students are more likely to blame the exam.”
Computer Science/Technology
There was a 79 percent decline in the number of first year undergraduate women interested in a computer science major between 2000 and 2011. Recruiting women is a critical issue, but so is retaining them. Women’s quit rate in technology exceeds that of other science and engineering fields. Stanford University reports that a full 56 percent of women leaving technology positions at the mid-level point in their careers. Experts believe that intervention could stop many women from leaving the field, and add 220,000 women to the IT workforce.
“STEM jobs are among the highest paid jobs out there right now. Why should women not have an equal opportunity to get those jobs and become high earners?”
Mathematics and Statistics
Females earn 41.9 percent of mathematics and statistics degrees, with this figure holding steady over the past decade. Even with the high number of women mathematics graduates, their numbers in the workplace remain low. Many women who major in math go into teaching. Allison Miller, who holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in mathematics says, “in my experience, women who like math either major in engineering or get a graduate degree in mathematics and teach. I think most women who do choose to major in math plan to teach. Both of my graduate classes were predominantly women.”
Colleges and universities are making an effort to recruit mathematics majors, discovering mentors and strong role models make a difference. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is currently hiring more female faculty in their mathematics departments, hoping the change will result in higher enrollment numbers.
Engineering
Though the percentage of female engineering graduates is 19.3 percent, only 11 percent of practicing engineers are women. The National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) reports that one-third of women working in the field do so as software engineers. Females are employed in higher rates than males in environmental engineering and chemical engineering, and are less likely to be employed in mechanical engineering and electrical engineering.
Studies show that a large percentage of women who decide not to practice engineering end up obtaining another degree or following a different career path. What reasons do women give for leaving the profession? In one study, the most common responses were a lack of interest in engineering and a dislike of the “engineering culture.”
Best Careers for Women in STEM
The range of STEM career options for women are as extensive as they are for men in areas like technology, research, finance and healthcare. While the opportunities may be there, the numbers in the workplace don’t always reflect gender parity. U.S. News and World Report claims that recruiter perceptions may remain clouded by the myth that women have lower skill sets or less aptitude for STEM fields. False perceptions among women that STEM work must be boring may also have an impact on college recruiters or employers. Opportunities for women are increasing, however.
Top 10 Emerging STEM Fields for Women
| Stem Fields | |
| 1. Software | 6. School Psychology |
| 2. Computer Systems | 7. Mechanical Engineering |
| 3. Information Security | 8. Operations Research |
| 4. Web Development | 9. IT Manager |
| 5. Accounting | 10. Civil Engineering |
The National Girls Collaborative Project (NGCP) recently conducted a study on women in STEM fields, publishing the findings in its State of Girls and Women in STEM. While women make up 47 percent of the general workforce, the numbers are much smaller when broken down across various STEM careers.
Percentage of Women in STEM Fields
The NGCP project also employed National Science Foundation statistics to discover gender disparities for women and minorities at the undergraduate STEM levels. Women earned 50 percent of science and engineering degrees at the baccalaureate level, with women encompassing more than 50 percent of the undergraduate class in the biological sciences. However, women graduate with fewer BS degrees in computer sciences (18 percent), engineering (19 percent), and physics (19 percent). Consequently, the jobs with the greatest promise are vastly underrepresented by women in terms of their chosen STEM majors.
Accounting remains high among STEM employment sectors for women, according to a study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In the study, Women in the Labor Force: a Databook for 2014, the BLS found that women made up 20 percent of software developers and 33 percent of lawyers, while 62 percent of accountants and auditors were women.
Where Can a STEM Degree Take You?
According to a study from Georgetown University’s Center on Education and Workforce, STEM careers are projected as the second-fasted growing industry in the United States. Use this career map to identify the top STEM careers for women, find information on average salaries for STEM jobs, learn how many women are in the field, projected job growth, and opportunities for each STEM degree listed below.
| Degree – Electrical Engineering | |||
| Career | Salary | Num. of Women | Job Growth |
| Electrical Engineering Technologist | $61,580 | 12-18% | 2% |
| Research Engineer | $86,387 | 12-18% | 5% |
| Industrial Engineer | $78,860 | 12-18% | 5% |
| Degree – Computer Engineering Technology | |||
| Career | Salary | Num. of Women | Job Growth |
| Computer System Analyst | $82,710 | 34.9% | 22% |
| Computer Hardware Engineer | $100,920 | 22.8% | 7% |
| Computer Network Architect | $91,000 | 7.5% | 15% |
| Degree – Bachelor of Science in Information Technology | |||
| Career | Salary | Num. of Women | Job Growth |
| Cloud Architect | $91,000 | 22.8% | 15% |
| Information Security Analyst | $86,170 | 22.8% | 37% |
| Software Developer | $93,350 | 19.7% | 22% |
| Degree – Mathematical Sciences | |||
| Career | Salary | Num. of Women | Job Growth |
| Operational Researcher | $72,100 | 17-22% | 27% |
| Cryptanalyst | $101,360 | 17-22% | 15% |
| Climate Analyst | $63,570 | 17-22% | 15% |
| Degree – Biological Sciences | |||
| Career | Salary | Num. of Women | Job Growth |
| Biomedical Engineer | $86,960 | 46% | 27% |
| Microbiologist | $66,260 | 46% | 7% |
| Entomologist | $58,610 | 46% | 9% |
According to 2012 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the National Center for Education Statistics, the following STEM careers have some of the highest earning potential out of all available STEM jobs:
Program Highlight: MIT’s Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Department
MIT’s Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) Department, headed by Anantha P. Chandrakasan, provides an in-depth education in engineering principles built on mathematics, computation and the physical and life sciences. EECS blends a flexible curriculum with intensive, hands-on coursework and is the largest undergraduate program at MIT. It prepares graduates for success in a wide range of industries from software to bioengineering, and has produced some very notable female graduates in its history.
Sample Courses
Notable Graduates
The MIT EECS department has graduated many women with impressive STEM backgrounds. The following women hold undergraduate and graduate degrees from the department, and went on to become leaders in their respective fields.
Though gender discrimination is not at the level it was for women in STEM in the early 19th century, it still unfortunately exists. Even in areas where women perform strongly, such as mathematics, girls are less likely to pursue a career in the field because of lack of support. Women in engineering are twice as likely to drop out of degree programs. How prevalent is the problem?
- When Yale Researchers looked at the behavior of faculty members in a study of six highly ranked research universities, they found there is indeed a clear bias against female scientists, with both male and female instructors.
- Researchers at Columbia Business School found women suffer serious discrimination in the workplace, and are less likely to be selected for new positions. Their study found both men and women were twice as likely to hire a male applicant rather than a female applicant.
- 55 percent of women in tech begin in lower-paying, entry-level positions, compared to 39 percent of men.
Experts are hopeful that outreach programs and interventions will encourage more young women to pursue STEM educations. One way to attract women to these professions is by financial compensation, one area that has seen significant improvement. Women in STEM jobs are earning 33 percent more than those in non-STEM occupations – a good sign. There is also less of a wage gap between men and women in STEM occupations: women earn 92 cents for every dollar made by men, compared to 77 cents in other fields.
STEM on Campus:
Clubs & Programs Just for Women
As more organizations work to recruit women into STEM fields, colleges are responding in kind by offering more options for women on-campus. Last summer, the American Colleges and Universities announced 20 schools which were selected to participate in Teaching to Increase Diversity and Equity in STEM (TIDES). The goal of the initiative is to help faculty learn how to better engage women and underrepresented minorities in STEM, particularly computer science.
Colleges and universities are also gathering feedback from women on campus about their experiences in STEM programs so that they can better understand their issues. By interviewing female students, running focus groups, and implementing surveys, schools are discovering new ways to support women through the following types of opportunities:
Academic Assistance
Programs to assist female students with math, chemistry, physics, biology and other STEM subjects are becoming popular on many campuses. Clark College established a STEM Help Center – a separate space where female faculty and tutors can meet on a drop-in or appointment basis.
Clubs and Organizations
During the past several decades, most campuses have offered STEM clubs to network with students, participate in STEM activities, and find mentors, but they haven’t always targeted women. The tide is turning, with and more schools are establishing STEM clubs for women. Female students without a STEM club to join have been taking it into their own hands. Recently, a group of four students started Amherst Women in Finance, Economics and STEM, a club for female students interested in or already pursuing a degree in quantitative fields. There are also a number of national organizations related to STEM with an on-campus presence:
- American Association of University Women (AAUW)
The nation’s leading voice for promoting equity and education for women and girls sponsors a campus leadership program for STEM students.
- Association for Women in Computing
Provides opportunities for professional growth through networking and programs on technical and career-oriented topics.
- Association for Women in Mathematics
Offers undergraduate and graduate chapters for female mathematicians to connect in both industry and academia.
- Association for Women in Science
Champions the interests of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics across all disciplines and employment sectors.
- Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
Not-for-profit educational and service organization that empowers women to succeed and advance in the field of engineering.
- STEMinist
Empowers students to combat sexism in all forms, both within STEM fields and everyday life.
Interview: Dr. Wendi Hienzelman
What was it about computer science and engineering that drew you to the major as an undergrad?
I always very much enjoyed my math classes. As a high school student, I took a computer science course and also really enjoyed that – I found coding to be like solving a problem and enjoyed the thrill of getting a program to work. My father is an engineer, and he encouraged me to consider engineering as a profession that applies the skills I enjoy (solving problems) to real-world problems. I had also grown up around technology, as my dad would bring us into his work (at Bell Labs) and let us “play” with the “toys” he created, such as the first voice-controlled video game called “Mouse in the Maze” that was featured for a time at Epcot in Disney. For a young girl, it was exciting to see what could be created through engineering! So with my dad’s encouragement and my exposure to engineering, I felt confident that I would not only enjoy but could be successful at a career in engineering and computer science.
Your father and uncle went to MIT. Who else encouraged you to pursue an education in computer science and engineering?
Both my father (and mother!) and my uncle encouraged me to pursue engineering, as they both had fulfilling careers as electrical engineers. I also had a wonderful AP Calculus teacher in high school who helped me really understand and appreciate calculus and built my interest in this area. But outside of this, I didn’t really have anyone who encouraged me to pursue computer science and engineering. Without my parent’s support and encouragement, I doubt I would have ended up in this field. I think we have done a better job of providing programs in high schools (and even earlier) that expose kids to engineering and show them the excitement and possibilities of a career in this field, compared to when I was in high school. However, we can always do more! Mentors are very important; I had my dad as an amazing mentor in this field, but many young girls are not as lucky as I was. We need to provide them with more contacts in engineering that they can use as sounding boards to explore their interests. I always love talking to young girls, especially, about the field of engineering and computer science and why I find it such an exciting career. I never want to try to “convince” someone to go into engineering, but I don’t want anyone to shy away from it, either.
If they have an interest, there should be nothing stopping them from pursuing a career in this really important field!
What was the climate for women in STEM majors during your years as an undergrad at Cornell?
As an undergraduate student in electrical engineering at Cornell University, women were definitely in the minority, but I never felt that there was a hostile or chilly climate. Several of my closest girlfriends at Cornell, who I still keep in touch with today, were engineers, so we took classes together and studied together. My future husband was also an electrical engineer and in almost all my classes. So socially I never felt isolated, and I had such a strong support group that I never felt intimidated by being a minority in my field. Similarly, at graduate school at MIT, I made a few very close women friends and that really helped to keep me socially connected. The only times I have felt any negative climate issues were when I was a graduate student and would attend conferences in my field. There were SO few women, and I hadn’t yet met people in my field, so I really felt out of place. That is one of the reasons I started a group (with a colleague and friend of mine, Tracy Camp) called Networking Networking Women (N^2 Women) that aims to connect women who attend the same conferences to avoid that feeling of isolation.
Cornell had a very active Society of Women Engineers (SWE) group but, unfortunately, I never got involved. At MIT, my department (EECS) created a Women in EECS group that I was involved with, and this was a great way to connect with other women in my department.
What differences do you see between then and now in terms of women in STEM?
Unfortunately, I don’t think there have been huge gains in the numbers of women in many STEM fields, such as electrical engineering and computer science. However, I do think there are more resources available for women, in terms of groups, mentors, online and in-person networking opportunities, professional development, and a recognition that it is important to make our field as welcoming to all as we can. I still think this is an exciting field to enter, with endless possibilities for how one can change the world and make a real impact on society. So I think we need to keep doing what we can to encourage all students to consider whether their passions and skills can be applied to an exciting and impactful career in engineering and computer science.
Anything but Basic:
Trailblazing Women in STEM
Even though women are underrepresented in engineering, science, technology and mathematics, the climate is far from what it was when the fields were emerging. It wasn’t until after World War II that women were able to beat what seemed like impossible odds to find employment. However, there were early pioneers as far back as the mid-19th century who made significant contributions to STEM.
Meet the Expert
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