Sara Faatz, Director of Technology Community Relations, Progress, says emphasising women’s empowerment in STEM benefits not just the women themselves, but STEM as a whole.
On this International Women’s Day, it is important to recognise and celebrate the outstanding achievements of women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
While a lot has been done to increase the representation of women in this field, a big gap exists and it needs attention.
At the heart of this is self-reflection, so that we can identify improvement areas and knock down barriers to progress for women in STEM.
For instance, while there are 95 men for every 100 women in Singapore, women only comprise a third of all local STEM roles.
The disparity is worse the higher up the organisational ladder we go, with women only accounting for an eighth of all C-suite positions in STEM industries.
Advancement is uneven across different fields, industries, companies and even departments.
But the major challenges are the same. Even as we are about to reach the first quarter mark of this century, issues such as workplace discrimination and the persistent gender norms endure despite the headway made so far.
The number of women in STEM lessens the higher one goes up an organisation’s ranks.
A major basis for discrimination in the country, according to a study by the Singapore Management University (SMU), is the traditional notion of gender roles.
Men are expected to be assertive and confident, while women should be ‘warm and caring’ with those who do not conform penalised for doing so.
Even these numbers might be conservative, the SMU study adds, as culturally it is deemed inappropriate to discuss personal issues in public.
Add to this the effect of workplace policies that disregard socialised responsibilities such as childbirth, child raising and domestic work and you have a workplace environment that reinforces the idea that women must choose either their families or their careers.
Beyond these external influences, another significant hurdle is the internal battle that many women face.
While imposter syndrome happens to the majority of people, it is often seen more in women.
A recent study published by Clare Jose in Ditching the Impostor Syndrome suggests that 61% of women routinely do not speak up to share their best ideas and more than 45% refrain from seeking promotions that they rightfully deserve.
That is why it is so important for this generation of STEM women to not limit themselves based on existing societal gender expectations. They must challenge the status quo by addressing uncomfortable issues and celebrating the achievements of women – while finding allies in men.
It requires a collective and collaborative effort to cultivate a more inclusive and supportive environment that values a person’s abilities, skills and knowledge rather than their gender alone.
Progress’ Women in STEM Scholarship series is a recognition of the many roadblocks that women face in a career in STEM, some of which are already in place even before they send their first job application.
As students, girls in fields such as information systems and computer science already face the pressure of having to conform to a male-dominated environment.
Another study by SMU identified difficulties adapting as a factor in lower academic confidence levels among girls as compared to boys.
By providing women students with the financial resources needed to pursue their STEM studies, Progress aims to alleviate some of the many burdens they have to face.
In doing so, it is the hope of the organisation that more girls will consider pursuing a career in STEM, reducing the disparity between women and men in this field.
With this as a foundation, other initiatives such as addressing discrimination and fostering a culture of inclusivity can have more of an impact. Through the synergy of all these efforts, gender parity can truly be achieved across all levels of organisations throughout STEM fields.
Emphasising women’s empowerment in STEM benefits not just the women themselves, but STEM as a whole.
By fully embracing and supporting women in these industries, companies can unlock a diverse range of perspectives, unlocking the creativity and innovation that is essential for success and competitiveness in today’s rapidly evolving tech landscape.
Investing in women’s empowerment in STEM is not only the right thing to do but also a strategic business move.
The old saying “a rising tide raises all ships” has never been more apt.
Inclusion and gender parity aren’t just ideals to strive for as they are essential components for building a thriving and sustainable future for the tech industry.
