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The stereotype that boys are better than girls in math and science still affects the industry today. Women have made exceptional progress in education and the workplace during the past 50 years, especially in historically male-dominated areas such as business and law. In science however, women’s educational progress in the workplace is still slower. A new research report by the American Association of University Women is trying to explain why that is. What is stopping women’s participation in science, technology, engineering, and math?

Not surprisingly, key research findings include social stereotypes, gender bias and the climate of science and engineering departments in colleges and universities that contribute to the inequality . Research shows that negative stereotypes about women´s abilities in math can indeed measurably lower their test performance. It also shows that these stereotypes can lower the aspirations that women have to study science. The report presents new ideas for what can be done to allow more gender equality in scientific and engineering fields.

Parents and educators can help to encourage achievement and an interest in math and science, yet more work is needed to ensure that women have full access to education and employment opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Colleges and universities can attract more female science and engineering faculty if they improve departmental culture to promote the integration of female faculty. The report by the AA of University Women provides evidence that women are less satisfied with the academic workplace and more likely to leave it earlier in their careers than men.  By addressing this issue, maybe we can work towards a change in the number of women entering these industries.

The report can be found here.

Tags: American Association of University Women, business, engineering, law, math, Science, Technology, United States, Women in Science