bbc.com
NI's STEM Gender Gap: Initiatives Aim to Attract More Women
In Northern Ireland, only 20% of STEM jobs are held by women, prompting initiatives like Engineers Week to challenge gender stereotypes and attract more women to STEM careers through hands-on activities and highlighting the creative aspects of these fields.
- What is the current state of gender representation in STEM fields in Northern Ireland, and what specific initiatives are underway to address the imbalance?
- Only 20% of STEM jobs in Northern Ireland are filled by women, a disparity particularly stark in engineering, where traditional gender stereotypes persist. Initiatives like Engineers Week, which engaged over 2,000 children in hands-on activities, aim to address this imbalance by showcasing the diverse and creative aspects of STEM careers.
- What long-term strategies are needed to overcome ingrained societal perceptions and ensure greater gender equality in STEM leadership and management roles?
- While initiatives like Engineers Week are making progress, a significant shift in societal perceptions of STEM careers is needed. Continued effort to highlight the creativity and problem-solving aspects of STEM, rather than focusing on physical labor, is essential for encouraging more women to pursue and excel in these fields. Tracking the impact of these initiatives will be key to assessing future success.
- How do gender stereotypes affect girls' choices of STEM subjects at school and university, and what are the resulting consequences for women's representation in STEM careers?
- The gender gap in STEM is evident from A-level choices, where maths and physics are less popular among girls than boys. This disparity continues into higher education and the workforce, hindering women's representation in leadership roles within STEM fields. Addressing deeply ingrained stereotypes is crucial to attracting more women to these careers.
Cognitive Concepts
Framing Bias
The article frames the issue as a problem that needs to be solved, highlighting the low representation of women in STEM and the efforts being made to address it. The focus on women's experiences and the initiatives to encourage more female participation is appropriate given the topic.
Bias by Omission
The article focuses on the experiences of women in STEM in Northern Ireland, but it would benefit from including data or perspectives on the initiatives and efforts by men to promote gender equality in the field. Additionally, information on initiatives specifically targeting girls from underrepresented communities or socioeconomic backgrounds would provide a more comprehensive picture.
Gender Bias
The article focuses on women's experiences in STEM, which is appropriate given the subject matter. However, it could benefit from including more diverse voices of women in different STEM fields, showcasing their unique contributions and challenges to further break down stereotypes.
Sustainable Development Goals
The article highlights initiatives to address the gender gap in STEM fields in Northern Ireland. By showcasing successful women in STEM and organizing events to encourage young women to pursue STEM careers, these initiatives directly contribute to SDG 5 (Gender Equality), specifically target 5.5, which aims to ensure women's full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.