So, lately I’ve been hearing a lot about the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields, including my own field of web development. Over the last few years it’s become something of a hot topic. When the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology predicts a shortfall of 1 million STEM workers over the next decade, people tend to talk.
Why should women want to work in STEM fields? That’s easy. As the Department of Commerce pointed out, “women earn on average 33 percent more when they work in these high-growth fields.” (Women in STEM: A Gender Gap to Innovation [August 2011].)
So, duh. Who wouldn’t want to earn more money? Need more incentive to follow your interest in, say, computers? Forget about e-Harmony. If you're a young woman looking to meet guys, sign up for a CS class. Seriously.
With the economy as rough as it is, you’d think women would be flocking to majors in technology and computer science, including web development. Yet the data shows women aren’t entering those fields in college. A recent study by the AAUW revealed that, though "as many girls as boys leave high school prepared to pursue science and engineering majors in college...By [college] graduation, men outnumber women in nearly every science and engineering field”—in some fields, women make up less than 20% of graduates. In fact, in 2008-09 a mere "31.0% of the degrees in STEM fields were earned by women" (Why So Few? Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).
What the heck is going on? We know it’s not a lack of smarts. Girls do as well as boys in these subjects right up through high school. I doubt that girls reach 18 and suddenly don’t care about making a decent living. So what discourages these otherwise capable young women from pursuing the math, science and technology studies they were so good at in high school?
A 2012 Yale study published by the National Academy of Scienes may shed some light. In their study, the researchers proved "that physicists, chemists and biologists are likely to view a young male scientist more favorably than a woman with the same qualifications. Presented with identical summaries of the accomplishments of two imaginary applicants, professors at six major research institutions were significantly more willing to offer the man a job. If they did hire the woman, they set her salary, on average, nearly $4,000 lower than the man’s. Surprisingly, female scientists were as biased as their male counterparts" (Science faculty’s subtle gender biases favor male students).
Is there gender bias against women in the fields of science, math, engineering and technology? Studies say yes. The research indicates that men and women in web development and other tech fields look less favorably on females. Most women in our industry would agree. It’s not easy being in the minority, and women can find it dificult to be accepted in the traditionally machismo world of development.
No one likes to think of themselves as biased. We need to believe we are good and fair people...which is why denial often comes into play at this point. But the best way to meet statistics like these is acceptance--accept the fact that we're all a little prejudiced, shake your head at the innumerable follies of humankind, then vow to do do better and move on.
In a recent survey of women in technology, the majority of them cited a supportive mentor and opportunities to learn as major factors in their choosing and sticking with a career in development. In other words, helping a young woman learn to code might just make her want to go into and stay in web development. Helping each other doesn't seem like a big price to pay now, does it?
Comments
Hello there, I discovered your website by the use of Google even as looking for a related topic, your site got here up, it looks good. I've bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Hi there, simply became alert to your weblog thru Google, and found that it is really informative. I'm going to be careful for brussels. I'll be grateful should you continue this in future. Numerous people might be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
Hello there, I found your web site by way of Google while searching for a comparable topic, your site got here up, it seems great. I've bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Hi there, simply turned into aware of your blog through Google, and located that it's really informative. I am gonna be careful for brussels. I'll be grateful for those who proceed this in future. Numerous other people shall be benefited out of your writing. Cheers!
It's awesome to go to see this web site and reading the views of all colleagues regarding this paragraph, while I am also keen of getting know-how.
Appreciate the recommendation. Let me try it out.
I enjoy what you guys are up too. This sort of clever work and exposure! Keep up the terrific works guys I've added you guys to my blogroll.
Hey there! This post couldn't be written any better! Reading through this post reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!
Greetings I am so excited I found your webpage, I really found you by mistake, while I was browsing on Aol for something else, Nonetheless I am here now and would just like to say thanks a lot for a marvelous post and a all round entertaining blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t have time to read through it all at the moment but I have saved it and also added in your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back to read a lot more, Please do keep up the superb work.
I quite like looking through an article that can make people think. Also, thanks for allowing for me to comment!
I have to thank you for the efforts you've put in writing this blog. I'm hoping to view the same high-grade blog posts by you in the future as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to get my own website now ;)
Hello, yup this paragraph is really good and I have learned lot of things from it concerning blogging. thanks.
Excellent post. I'm experiencing many of these issues as well..
Have you ever thought about writing an e-book or guest authoring on other websites? I have a blog based on the same topics you discuss and would really like to have you share some stories/information. I know my subscribers would appreciate your work. If you are even remotely interested, feel free to shoot me an e mail.
Nice post. I was checking constantly this blog and I'm impressed! Very useful information specifically the last part :) I care for such information a lot. I was looking for this certain info for a very long time. Thank you and good luck.
With havin so much content and articles do you ever run into any issues of plagorism or copyright infringement? My blog has a lot of exclusive content I've either authored myself or outsourced but it looks like a lot of it is popping it up all over the web without my agreement. Do you know any ways to help prevent content from being stolen? I'd really appreciate it.
There is certainly a lot to know about this issue. I love all the points you've made.
Hi! Someone in my Myspace group shared this website with us so I came to take a look. I'm definitely enjoying the information. I'm book-marking and will be tweeting this to my followers! Fantastic blog and fantastic design and style.
Hey there just wanted to give you a quick heads up. The words in your content seem to be running off the screen in Opera. I'm not sure if this is a formatting issue or something to do with browser compatibility but I figured I'd post to let you know. The style and design look great though! Hope you get the problem solved soon. Cheers
Hi there, You have done an excellent job. I'll certainly digg it and personally recommend to my friends. I am sure they'll be benefited from this web site.
Every weekend i used to pay a quick visit this web site, as i wish for enjoyment, for the reason that this this web site conations actually fastidious funny information too.
My coder is trying to convince me to move to .net from PHP. I have always disliked the idea because of the costs. But he's tryiong none the less. I've been using Movable-type on various websites for about a year and am anxious about switching to another platform. I have heard excellent things about blogengine.net. Is there a way I can transfer all my wordpress posts into it? Any help would be really appreciated!
Aw, this was an incredibly nice post. Finding the time and actual effort to create a good article… but what can I say… I hesitate a whole lot and never manage to get anything done.
What i do not understood is in fact how you are now not really much more smartly-preferred than you may be right now. You are very intelligent. You recognize thus significantly on the subject of this subject, made me in my view consider it from a lot of various angles. Its like men and women are not fascinated unless it's something to do with Woman gaga! Your individual stuffs nice. At all times care for it up!
you are in point of fact a excellent webmaster. The website loading speed is incredible. It kind of feels that you're doing any distinctive trick. In addition, The contents are masterpiece. you've done a fantastic task on this matter!
I'm not sure exactly why but this site is loading very slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a issue on my end? I'll check back later and see if the problem still exists.
Wonderful, what a blog it is! This website presents helpful facts to us, keep it up.
brand cialis real - <a href="https://probrandtad.com/brandlevitra/">brand levitra absurd</a> penisole tree
Wow! This blog looks exactly like my old one! It's on a completely different subject but it has pretty much the same layout and design. Excellent choice of colors!
brand cialis rapid - <a href="https://probrandtad.com/penisole/">penisole peak</a> penisole divide
I was wondering if you ever thought of changing the layout of your website? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having one or two images. Maybe you could space it out better?
cialis soft tabs pills grippe - <a href="https://supervalip.com/cavertapills/">caverta online study</a> viagra oral jelly sometime
Pretty! This has been a really wonderful post. Thank you for supplying this info.
Wow, that's what I was searching for, what a material! present here at this weblog, thanks admin of this site.
Very nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I've truly enjoyed surfing around your blog posts. In any case I'll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!
Thank you for sharing your info. I truly appreciate your efforts and I will be waiting for your next post thanks once again.
Great beat ! I would like to apprentice whilst you amend your website, how can i subscribe for a blog site? The account helped me a appropriate deal. I had been a little bit familiar of this your broadcast offered brilliant transparent idea
cialis soft tabs online lick - <a href="https://supervalip.com/viagraoraljelly/">viagra oral jelly online grey</a> viagra oral jelly kiss
Paragraph writing is also a excitement, if you be acquainted with then you can write otherwise it is difficult to write.
I feel that is among the most important information for me. And i'm happy reading your article. However want to remark on some general issues, The site style is great, the articles is in point of fact excellent : D. Excellent activity, cheers
First off I would like to say fantastic blog! I had a quick question which I'd like to ask if you do not mind. I was curious to find out how you center yourself and clear your head before writing. I have had trouble clearing my mind in getting my thoughts out there. I truly do take pleasure in writing but it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes are generally lost simply just trying to figure out how to begin. Any ideas or tips? Thanks!
Hey there! I know this is sort of off-topic but I needed to ask. Does building a well-established blog such as yours take a large amount of work? I am completely new to blogging however I do write in my journal daily. I'd like to start a blog so I will be able to share my own experience and feelings online. Please let me know if you have any kind of ideas or tips for new aspiring blog owners. Appreciate it!
Usually I don't learn post on blogs, but I wish to say that this write-up very pressured me to check out and do so! Your writing taste has been amazed me. Thank you, quite great post.
What's up, the whole thing is going well here and ofcourse every one is sharing facts, that's genuinely fine, keep up writing.
Asking questions are really pleasant thing if you are not understanding anything fully, but this paragraph provides pleasant understanding even.
cialis soft tabs online nothing - <a href="https://supervalip.com/">cialis soft tabs crush</a> viagra oral jelly online forget
Inspiring story there. What happened after? Take care!
Nice blog here! Also your site loads up fast! What web host are you using? Can I get your affiliate link to your host? I wish my website loaded up as fast as yours lol
I could not refrain from commenting. Very well written!
Hello Dear, are you truly visiting this website on a regular basis, if so afterward you will without doubt obtain pleasant know-how.
brand cialis note - <a href="https://probrandtad.com/alprostadilonline/">alprostadil among</a> penisole mere
Hi, I read your new stuff regularly. Your writing style is witty, keep it up!
Pages
Add new comment