This past Thursday I went to my first AAUW meeting! Dr. Kathy Taber-Maier, a neurobiologist at the local VA hospital working in research and mentoring clinicians, gave the group a presentation titled “Why So Few? (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math – STEM). The presentation had a ton of interesting information and helped remind me of some things I learned getting my women’s studies minor at UNC.
Here is a brief synopsis of Dr. Taber-Maier’s talk based on the notes I took. To read more, check this out.
Why do we want more women in STEM occupations?
Simply put, everyone benefits from the different perspectives provided when there are a variety of backgrounds, experiences and personalities involved in research, development, creation and thought leadership.
- The first round of airbags put in automobiles were designed by and tested on men, resulting in unintended deaths of women and children that could have been avoided had the design process included a more diverse group of people.
- Early voice recognition systems did not recognize women’s voices.
- It was only when women became involved in research on the development of babies brains and personalities that the tabula rasa view was questioned, (every mother knows that their children are born with a personality).
Genetic Excuses ~ Women just can cut it? (Environmental & Cultural Influences)
- Women just aren’t as good at math.
- Women’s spacial skills aren’t as good.
- Male children are given toys at a young age that expose them to spacial skills at a young age.
- There have been numerous studies to date that have demonstrated exposing women to skills they have traditionally been viewed as ‘inefficient’ in, can increase their skill level, refuting the ‘inherent’ belief. If you can change an outcome in a single intervention, (and in less than a generation), it is not an innate trait.
Implicit Versus Explicit Bias
Our society has gotten to the point where explicit bias (overt sexism, racism, etc) is frowned upon. Laws exist to combat such injustices. But there are biases that are much more difficult to eradicate because they are ingrained in our social subconscious. For more information on the studies that look at implicit bias read the full article.