Girls in STEM is failing both girls and STEM? 99

[moltenmetal]

https://www.thestar.com/opinion/com...m-culture-is-failing-both-girls-and-stem.html

Read the article, THEN discuss...

Growing up, I increasingly saw my good grades as a trap locking me into a single career: STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). It felt like a dystopian YA novel, and my high school report card was The Choosing. A’s in math and science? Here are your jeans and sweatshirt.

Well-meaning people lied to me. They said computer science was a great work-from-home career if I wanted children (when in fact a majority of women quit STEM because the culture of poor work-life balance makes it too difficult to raise a family), that STEM careers are secure (actually the industry has frequent layoffs and is very competitive), and more....

 

[GregLocock]

So, what did the veterinarians do to shift the gender balance so dramatically in 3 decades?

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

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[solid7]

They became in demand... Should be easy, right?

 

[GregLocock]

Are you saying there's no demand for female engineers? That's the only way I can parse that.

Cheers

Greg Locock


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[solid7]

Veterinarians became one of THE most in-demand jobs. And not specifically female.

I'm saying that the so-called "demand" for specifically female engineers is a misnomer. (there is no male/female specific "need" in either of those industries) To the best of my knowledge, there weren't mass targeted campaigns for female veterinarians. However, as attitudes changed over generations, women gravitated towards the field. On their own. (some cite the "natural caregiver" effect - which indicates a biologically driven preference - are we in James Damore territory, if we buy into that?)

I have read that the percentage of new graduating veterinarians hovers somewhere close to 75%. So, if that's the case, will men be "under-represented"? Will we need to start token hiring/recruiting?

 

[lacajun]

in a zero-sum situation, women, STEM or otherwise, are competing for the same jobs, and that makes it less likely for men to be altruistic in supporting additional, or any women, in the workplace. Certainly, from a self-interest perspective, every job women gain is a job not filled by a man.

I have heard that, in essence, from more than one white man in engineering. At the beginning of my career in Louisiana, I heard white, male engineers say often that open season had been declared on white men. They felt as though a target had been placed on their backs.

Better doesn't mean it is what it should be and later is never now.

You are right in this and your immediately previous post to the one quoted. It's hard to police human behavior and many in HR don't have the skills to do it, which benefit the company and employees, so, in my experience, they neglect adequately addressing problems.



Pamela K. Quillin, P.E.
Quillin Engineering, LLC
NSPE-CO, Central Chapter
Dinner program:

http://nspe-co.org/events.php