In anticipation of the second annual International Day of Women and Girls in Science, celebrated on Saturday, February 11, The U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said in a press release: "For too long, discriminatory stereotypes have prevented women and girls from having equal access to education in science, technology, engineering and maths ... On this International Day, I urge commitment to end bias, greater investments in science, technology, engineering and math education for all women and girls, as well as opportunities for their careers and longer-term professional advancement, so that all can benefit from their ground-breaking future contributions."
The International Day of Women and Girls in Science was created on December 22, 2015, at the 70th Session of the U.N. General Assembly. It solidified the commitment of Member States to achieve gender parity in all areas and aims to meet new demands set forth by the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals.
According to the National Science Board, women make up half of the total college-educated workforce in the United States, but they only comprise 29 percent of the science and engineering workforce. Most of these women are concentrated in fields of biological, agricultural, and life sciences. They are especially underrepresented as engineers and computer and mathematical scientists, accounting for only 15 percent and 25 percent of those workforces, respectively.
These statistics are exponentially more one-sided when looking outside the United States. One report by the U.N. Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization claims as few as 30 percent of the research workforce in Sub-Saharan African countries are women, 22.5 percent in Southeast Asia, and only 16.9 percent in South Asia.
This disparity is multifactorial and complex. Even at a young age, there exists a confidence gap between boys and girls that has direct consequences on early educational paths. Often unintentionally, girls are herded away from hard-science fields. Although severe discrimination seems all but eliminated in the United States, there still likely exists subconscious gender bias and stereotyping that may limit opportunities for women in these fields. For instance, the American Association of University of Women published a report exploring some of the concepts surrounding why women are lacking in these fields. According to their findings, there remain difficult and unwelcoming climates in science and engineering departments at colleges and universities that may present obstacles for women entering those arenas.
In order to bridge the gender gap for women in science fields moving forward, we must continue to bolster a culture that supports women scientists. We need to build strong networks and communities so girls might find mentors and role models. Additionally, we must advocate for policy changes to promote female education and participation in the workforce.
On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, many organizations affiliated with the United Nations, as well as many independent groups, will hold seminars, workshops, and conferences to raise awareness and inspire conversations about these important issues. Globally, there exists unlimited potential for scientific and technologic advancement. By including more women in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce, the world would benefit from a larger and more diverse collection of people with differing talents, abilities, and intellects.