Female Students Pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering,...

The number of female students pursuing science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) majors in US colleges has been on the increase, even though male dominance persists, particularly in the upper levels of STEM careers. Male and female students at the elementary, middle, and high school levels leave school equally prepared to pursue STEM majors at the college and university levels. However, fewer females tend to pursue these majors. Female students are less likely to indicate intentions of majoring in STEM and by graduation; males often outnumber females in engineering and science fields. The representation of women in STEM disciplines drops sharply at the graduate, as well as while transitioning to the workplace. According to a government report by U.S. Department of Commerce, Economics and Statistics Administration, Women in STEM: A Gender Gap to Innovation, it shows that even though America s STEM workforce is critical to the country s innovative capacity and internation al competitiveness, women continue to be hugely underrepresented not only in STEM majors but also in jobs despite constituting an estimated fifty percent of America s college-educated workforce (Office of the Chief Economist). STEM disciplines are recognized as being crucial to the economy of the United States. It is apparent that environmental and social factors have largely been responsible for the dominance of males in STEM majors in American colleges. In this regard, concerns about theShow MoreRelatedWhy Are There So Few Women Of The Math And Science Professions? Essay1532 Words   |  7 PagesWhy are there so few women in the math and science professions? Sommers’ reviews the history of women’s involvement in science. In the nineteenth century, women’s accesses to education and opportunities for employment in science had greatly improved. (2009: 61) The systematic and differential filtration of women in STEM careers has received a great deal of attention from leading theorists and researchers who are trying to understand why women are not participating in STEM activities as comparedRead MoreWomen : A Modern Day Revolution1483 Words   |  6 Pagesthat their young male counterparts in educational achievements and earn advanced degrees. Regardless of these advancements, women still trail behind their male peers with respect to education and careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The support of women STEM students is imperative not only for our nation to grow toward gender equality, and economic triumph; but for women themselves. STEM careers are the future of America; they offer women the possibility of a higher salaryRead MoreDiscrimination Against The Engineering Field1527 Words   |  7 Pagesdiscrimination against in the engineering field. Through my research and judging from the articles that I found, it shows that gender stereotypes is still prevalent in the engineering field. There’s still discrimination against women in the classrooms to the process of employment and carries off to the engineering industry. The discrimination keeps women from wanting to try and be in the STEM field, thinking of the that these fields are only for men. Some areas of science do attract more women thanRead MoreAudience And Purpose Goes Here1302 Words   |  6 PagesTia Martineau M. 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Per the US Census Bureau statistics, women comprise 48% of the total workforce but only make up 27% of computer workers, 24 % of STEM, and only 13% of engineers. This implies that many engineering productsRead MoreBarriers Of Beliefs A bout Intelligence And Cognitive Abilities, Self Assessment, And Discrimination By Stereotyping1674 Words   |  7 Pagesthe barriers for women going into engineering leading to the underrepresentation of women in engineering. â€Å"Only 8% of British engineers are women, the lowest proportion in Europe, and well behind Germany (15%), Sweden (25%) and top-performing Latvia (30%)† (Rankin, 2014). Over the last few years, women in engineering has become a major research topic, though a large majority of the research available focuses on STEM (Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics) as a whole. 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The most significant group of minorities who are behind in earning computer technology degrees and working in science and mathematical professions are women. â€Å"Historically, women’s low representation in science and engineering was said to be due in large part of their lack of abilityRead MoreGender Gap Between Men And Women Essay1391 Words   |  6 Pagesin STEM The number of women who are currently in STEM careers seems to be growing, yet men are still outnumbering women greatly in these kinds of professions. â€Å"A 2011  report  by the U.S. Department of Commerce found only one in seven engineers is female. Additionally, women have seen no employment growth in STEM jobs since 2000.† (Forbes.) Many qualified women are striving to reach new heights in their professions; yet the number is quite limited. In today’s society women are seen just as qualified