06/01/2025
Are we allowed to celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science?
Everything tech seems to be a hot topic. Visions of the human race’s quest for meaning seem empty without it. But we must address issues within the field to further development. One such is the presence of women in tech. A salient discussion on the gender gap in STEM is catching fire across industry. We’re seeing widespread calls for more women in STEM careers. But why’s it so necessary? And how can we celebrate events like International Women’s Day with pride if there are still so many fields crying out for women in leadership? Let’s take a look.
Do women in STEM careers have fewer opportunities?
Let’s start off with a basic one for those who need to get up to speed: What does STEM stand for? Science, technology, engineering and maths. As it stands, women lack representation in a number of STEM fields across Europe. This has a direct impact on economic growth due to lessened output, innovation and productivity. But why do women in STEM careers have fewer opportunities? Let’s take a moment to examine the STEM gender gap.
Breaking down the STEM gender gap
In 2021, only 41% of scientists in the UK and EEA were women. Their absences is particularly notable in manufacturing and air transport. Now consider this: In europe, not a single sector sees women overrepresented as scientists or engineers.
If that makes for tough reading, it gets worse. AAUW reports a 16% gender pay gap in technology. What’s more, this will take time to correct as there are still fewer female STEM graduates, meaning they’ll be taking junior positions. So, even as we correct representation, the pay gap won’t solved for a while
Why is there a gender gap in STEM?
The gender gap in STEM has its root in two key factors. Firstly, gender stereotypes in STEM discourage women from studying those fields. Secondly, STEM suffers from a “leaky pipeline”, whereby women feel obliged to leave the workforce during motherhood.
How to close the gender gap in STEM and support women in tech
Closing the gender gap in STEM has real benefits. EU research projects that by 2050, better gender balance in STEM could increase GDP per capita by 3%—almost €820 billion—and create 1.2 million jobs. But how do we get there? By addressing the lack of female role models and establishing policies to retain women in STEM careers.
The problem we’re facing here is systemic. Girls need confidence in STEM subjects from a young age. Parents must understand that positive reinforcement for studies in math and science are paramount. This will dispell the male aura surrounding topics by ensuring girls feel their math skills can be developed over time. It also means identifying women (particulary those of color) who have can inspire daughters to pursue a career in STEM. Schools can also recognize biases in teaching and ensure they give proper encouragement to take math and science classes.
Figures in higher education can also do their part to support women in tech.
IE School of Science & Technology understands inclusivity, diverse leadership, and equal power dynamics are essential for success. We believe all tech universities should enforce Title IX and take serious measures to address sexual harassment and discriminatory behaviour. They can also make master’s degrees in tech more welcoming with male ally initiatives, mentorship programs and supportive women networks. Read more on our IE Women’s Unit to understand how impactful these initiatives are.
How can companies support women in tech and STEM careers?
Beyond education, how can companies support women in tech and other STEM careers? In short, your company must consider strong advancement pipelines which focus on equal pay, inclusive policies and mentoring. Your company should also be flexible in supporting paid family leave and sick days.
You can attract women to STEM roles by upping remote and hybrid opportunities. 63% of women seek these opportunities. Paternal leave policies are essential to spreading the load for partners entering motherhood. You can also implement Returnships to help reincorporate women in the workforce at senior levels.
Ultimately, we must speak openly out diversity and remove the tabu. Women in tech will benefit from transparency.
A survey by AAUW found that 7.84% of women in tech would be drawn to a company that speaks openly about diversity. This means women see employers’ commitment to fostering positive change. All of these initiatives will ultimately create a sense of belonging for women in tech and close the gender gap in STEM.
Celebrating International Women’s Day
It’s a good thing to be celebrating International Women’s Day. When we enjoy world women’s day and women in science day, we are able to focus on ways forward. To close out our list, we’re going to mention a few women in leadership across the centuries that have been influential.
Mary Wollstonecraft: 1759—1797
Mary Wollstonecraft was an 18th-century British writer and philosopher, best known for her pioneering work, A Vindication of the Rights of Woman (1792). Advocating for women’s education and equality, she challenged societal norms and gender roles, laying the foundation for modern feminist thought and the fight for women’s rights.
Ada Lovelace: 1815—1852
Ada Lovelace was the first person on record to acknowledge the capability of what computers could do and worked with Charles Babbage ‘the father of computers’ to translate an article which is considered to be the first instance of computer programming.
Florence Nightingale: 1820—1910
Florence Nightingale, a trailblazing nurse during the Crimean War, improved unsanitary hospital conditions, earning her the title “lady with the lamp.” Despite initial resistance, her work transformed military healthcare and left a lasting global legacy. Her contributions earned her recognition, including a letter of thanks from Queen Victoria.
Marie Curie: 1867—1934
Marie Curie, a pioneering Polish scientist, made groundbreaking discoveries in radioactivity alongside her husband, Pierre. They won the 1903 Nobel Prize, and in 1911, Marie became the first woman to win a second Nobel Prize. Their work led to the development of radiotherapy, X-rays, and portable X-ray units used during World War I.
Mother Teresa: 1910—1997
Mother Teresa, canonized as a saint in 2016, devoted her life to helping the poor in Kolkata, India. At 12, she decided to spread Christianity and later founded the Missionaries of Charity, aiding those in need worldwide. In 1979, she won the Nobel Peace Prize, dedicating the funds to the poor.
Rosa Parks: 1913—2005
On December 1, 1955 Rosa Parks boarded a bus that changed the course of the Civil Rights movement in America. When she refused to give up her seat in the ‘coloured’ section to a white person, she became the centre of a national movement and international icon of resistance.
Rosalind Franklin: 1920—1958
After studying at Cambridge and living in France, Rosalind Franklin became a research associate at King’s College in London and became notable for her work on X-ray diffraction images of DNA which would eventually lead to the discovery of the DNA double helix.
Malala Yousafzai: 1997—present day
At 11, Malala Yousafzai wrote an anonymous diary about life under the Taliban in Pakistan, advocating for girls’ education. After being shot by the Taliban in 2012, she survived and gained global support. At 14, she became the youngest-ever Nobel Peace Prize laureate and continues to fight for girls’ rights worldwide.
