STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) is an academic discipline and field of study. Women, unfortunately, make up the smallest percentage of gender operating in these fields. For example, in the United Kingdom, women account for the lowest percentage of people working in engineering in all of Europe, with ten percent of roles and fourteen percent of university places. This small percentage of women operating as engineers means that there are many thousands more who are equally skilled and as qualified as their male counterparts, not through choice or discrimination, making the most of their talent. This is a grave concern for industry employers, particularly when we consider the shortage of staff that STEM sectors are currently experiencing. 

This page will offer you seven reasons why we need to improve gender diversity in STEM sectors and explain the myriad of benefits women can offer to these fields.

Qualifications

Many women, unfortunately, do not pursue careers in STEM sectors, notwithstanding relevant qualifications and periods of study. This, unfortunately, for women and for men, is a great loss. Women often do not pursue careers in these sectors due to gender discrimination and huge pay disparities. This is indicative of a failing system. In order to encourage women who are equally qualified as their male counterparts to pursue careers in STEM sectors, these problems must be addressed and amended thoughtfully and hastily. There must be systems to ensure that qualified women do not fall victim to the traps of a male-dominated society and are able to achieve everything they deserve.

Perspective

Women bring a unique perspective to scientific debate and discourse. According to a number of surveys and studies, diversity can have many advantages when it comes to STEM sectors. These studies suggested that research teams that are more diverse, both in gender, experience, and religion, are more likely to come up with unique and new perspectives. Diversity adds to the collective intellect and is something that is hugely beneficial, and massively important to cultivate. Until we begin to allow for gender neutrality in STEM sectors, we will never truly be able to blossom and flourish in these fields. Women are an integral cog in the wider machine, and until this issue is addressed, the new ideas and perspectives offered by women can never be brought into the limelight.

Lack of Workforce

At the moment, there is a massive shortage of STEM professionals. Women are needed now more than ever to fill the gaps and bring the number of STEM professionals up. It is ironic then, that after years of holding women back in this field, that they have become its only hope. Thankfully, however, many women are not holding resentful grudges, and rather, are pursuing careers in STEM sectors to help bridge the gap. This lack of workforce is incredibly worrying, and until the issues mentioned earlier are addressed, there will always be a distinct lack of women.

Variables

Women must be cherished and nurtured in STEM sectors for the sake of the research conducted, also. Many research surveys do not take women into consideration, and rather, they treat men as the norm. Gender and sex are seldom variables, yet the differences between men and women are massive, too massive in fact, for one to ignore. Women must be represented in these variables, and the best way to do that is to encourage them to work in STEM sector careers, where they will be the ones conducting said research and surveys.

Global Economy

As was mentioned earlier, there is a huge lack of staff filling STEM sector positions. If women were to begin working in STEM sector positions more and were given equal chances to succeed, then there would be a massive twelve trillion dollar increase in the global economy. In fact, women are needed in many, many different fields and markets.

Morality

We now live in the twenty-first century. No more are the days of women being unable to vote, nor do we live in the Dark Ages. It is absolutely unfathomable to think women still, with all of our technological advancements, are not treated equally. For the sake of morality, women must be cherished and nurtured in these fields.

Skills

Women are highly skilled, and by not being able to pursue careers or choosing not to because of discrimination, these potential workers’ skills are lost. Encouraging women to work in STEM sectors increases the skills that can be utilized.

 

Now you know several reasons why we need gender diversity in STEM sectors. Women are imperative to our society running fluidly and successfully, and if they are not cherished, we all inevitably fail.