Gender equality in education is still a challenge despite significant advancements in access to education. More girls are attending school today than ever before, however, discrimination based on gender, cultural norms, and other factors prevent them from having equal opportunities to complete their education and reap its benefits. This is not just an observation, but rather a conclusion reached by a UNESCO study that highlights the existence of gender stereotypes. A classic example is the limited number of women in the field of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Since Marie Curie won a Nobel Prize in 1903, only 17 women have received the award in physics, chemistry, or medicine, compared to 572 men.

Only 28% of the world’s researchers are women. The under-representation of women in STEM is due to deeply ingrained social stigma, discrimination, biases, cultural norms, and expectations that affect the quality of education they receive and the subjects they study. This disparity not only results in missed opportunities but also highlights the imbalance in a society where one gender is suppressed with limitations and restrictions. According to World Bank data, there are fewer female than male STEM graduates in 107 out of 114 economies. Globally, only 18% of girls in tertiary education are pursuing STEM studies, compared to 35% of boys. Within STEM fields, women tend to study life sciences and are less represented in majors such as computer science and electrical and mechanical engineering. Only 33% of researchers worldwide are women, and they account for just 22% of professionals working in artificial intelligence and 28% of engineering graduates.

However, the situation is not as grim as it seems, and there is hope for improvement. In recent years, STEM has transformed from a trendy hashtag into a movement, encouraging more women to get involved in science and technology. India is one of the few countries that produce a high number of scientists and engineers as the interest in STEM has increased significantly in recent years. 30% of those who appeared for the Joint Entrance Examination, the first stage filter to qualify for the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs), were women. This is the highest proportion recorded to date, which is an encouraging development that not only raises the status of women in Indian society but also helps the country realise its full economic potential as the country with the largest pool of young people in the world. The low participation of women in STEM is due to multiple reasons. One significant factor is the loss of income to the nation’s economy as women leave STEM careers or drop out of the workforce.

The most prominent reason is the stereotypical gender roles assigned to women. Patriarchal attitudes in granting fellowships, hiring practices, and pressures to conform to cultural norms, household responsibilities, and stress related to marriage and childbirth also play a major role in deterring women from pursuing advanced careers in science and technology. According to UN data (UNESCO Institute for Statistics), India had 232 researchers per million population in 2018, compared to China’s 1,307. By 2020, the figure for China grew to over 1,500. India needs to increase the number of researchers and advance knowledge to keep the economy competitive with its economic and strategic competitors. Keeping half of the eligible population, that is, women, out of serious training in science and technology will limit the nation’s ability to produce sufficient numbers of researchers and knowledge.

Despite significant advancements in access to education, gender equality in education remains a challenge. The under-representation of women in STEM is due to deeply ingrained social stigma, discrimination, biases, cultural norms, and expectations. However, there is hope for improvement as STEM has transformed into a movement that encourages more women to get involved in science and technology. The low participation of women in STEM is due to multiple reasons, including patriarchal attitudes.

Source: https://boldnewsonline.com/the-stem-gender-gap-a-hindrance-to-progress/