1. What girls miss in STEM is a representation.

 Female education in STEM includes child and adult female

represented in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM).
 But unfortunately females are underrepresented in most of the
STEM fields at grass root level throughout the world
 As per AAUW (American Association of University Women), girls
and women are systematically tracked away from science and math
throughout their education, limiting their access, preparation and
opportunities to go into these fields as adults
 This is what the same report shows women make up only 28% of the
workforce in STEM and while men vastly outnumber women in most
of the STEM fields in college.
 The gender gaps are particularly high in some of the fastest-growing
and highest-paid jobs of the future, like computer science and
engineering.
 The AAWU outlines the following are the major reasons behind the
poor representation of females in STEM:
a) Gender Stereotypes: STEM fields are often viewed as
masculine, and teachers and parents often underestimate girls’
math abilities starting as early as preschool. This is what once
Nancy Grace Roman, AAWU member and also ‘mother of the
Hubble Telescope’ said:
“I still remember asking my high school guidance teacher to take a
second year of algebra instead of a fifth year of Latin. She looked
down her nose at me and sneered, ‘What lady would take
mathematics instead of Latin?”

b) Male-Dominated Cultures: Because fewer women study and

work in STEM, these fields tend to perpetuate inflexible,
exclusionary, male-dominated cultures that are not supportive
of or attractive to women and minorities.
 c) Fewer Role Models: girls have fewer role models to inspire
their interest in these fields, seeing limited examples of female
scientists and engineers in books, media and popular culture.

d) Math Anxiety: Teachers, who are predominantly women, often

have math anxiety they pass onto girls, and they often grade
girls harder for the same work.

e) Factor of Racism”: Female poor representation in STEM is

also witnessed in racial and ethnic groups in Black or African
Americans; Hispanics or Latinos; and Native Americans or
Alaska Natives.

2. Forcing the use of role models is not ideal, but it allows girls to have
this representation.

Following women have been contributing figures in STEM, and they

appeared on different platforms to inspire representation and urge of
women in STEM fields:

 Marie Currie: is a role model like no other – and practically the only
female scientist that many people can name. She is particularly
known for her groundbreaking work on radioactivity.

 Ada Lovelace is known as the founder, metaphysician and analyst

of Scientific Computing. She became the role model to attract more
women in Stem subjects.

 Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Facebook is one

of the most reputed names in the global tech industry. She is an
American technology executive, author and activist. In her
book, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead, she
emphasized on gender equality and assists professional women to
achieve their career objectives. Sheryl Sandberg was ranked #10 in
the “Most Powerful Women in Business 2014”.
  Kathryn Parsons: is the co-founder of a digital learning company
named Decoded based in London. Parsons is one of the 50 “Most
Inspiring Women in European Technology”.

3. If we didn’t act on it, women would not be represented in STEM, and

using role models is the best way to give a representation.

 It is well said that “Seeing is Believing”

 In this regard, many studies have observed the benefits of female
role models for all women and girls.
 Female role models represent and expand upon what is possible for
women,
 They demonstrate the behaviors and mindsets needed to achieve
what they now know is possible,
 They inspire women to aim higher and be more ambitious than they
typically would otherwise.

4. If right now it feels forced, we hope that in some years it will become
natural, and women will be more represented in STEM fields without
having to use role models.

 History is self-evident witness that women leaders have contributed

in reshaping the development of technology since 1800s. They are
the role models for thousands of aspiring women in IT industry.
 Women have been successful STEM representatives as Scientist,
CEO, Founder, Engineer and Venture Capitalist.
 Once women realized it’s the role of in industry and technology, their
number and workforce will boost and at one stage they wouldn’t feel
need of any more role models.

5. Concluding remarks

“There are two powers in the world; one is the sword and the other
is the pen. There is a great competition and rivalry between the
two. There is a third power stronger than both, that of the
women.” (Muhammad Ali Jinnah, founder of Pakistan)