STEM - Is there real equality for women?

01 January 1970 32 7K Report

Can gender equality really exist in STEM-based subjects and what educational strategies or global policies are employed in classrooms globally to gain gender neutrallality?

As a British woman in the building services industry, I am aware of personal battles and unfair practices over the years. With numerous campaigns prominent in the media. I ask is it possible to have the opportunity for equality? Are there national or international initiatives? Is it a social or educational issue? How do we instil an equitable pedagogy? And finally, perhaps more controversial, is there a value to equality?

Paulina Potemski

Hello,

Thank you for this question. Yes, according to me equality for women can existe in STEM subjects and projects, I guess that there are many examples to be found in international development tools that UNWomen follow or implement.

Equality is for me both social and educational. Education being part of social evolution. Sinci social aspects are historicaly and geograpgicaly constructed I would say that before being educational equality is social... to restore equality, if it has ever existed social aspects are to be touched and this has to go through education indeed.

As for, is there a value for equality....oh yes, it would benefit both men and women to be able to better know themselves and understand that voluntarily or unconsciencely actions and achievements of more than half of humanity is hidden or not enought visible.

Adita Maharaj

Equality should exists but I understand perfectly what you are alluding to. It is somewhat of a conscious fight always to assert oneself in spite of qualifications and experience. We must, however, strive for inclusion by adoption of the tools referred to by Paulina Potemski

Andy Kowaluk

Is it equality we want or equity? For me its more about providing every girl who wishes to pursue study and/or work in STEM the opportunity by removing barriers such as those you mentioned than making sure there is an exact balance between the genders. I work in public education and we have put programs in place to encourage girls to consider STEM subjects for many years but the issues persist. I guess its just a matter of persevering and chipping away at the mountain.

Theogene Hakuzweyezu

I believe that the gender gap will eventually close if we all pull together. Reduced gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) education could potentially eliminate the skills gap, enhance women's employment and production, and minimize occupational segregation. In the end, this would promote economic growth by increasing both productivity and labor market activity.

Paulina Potemski

I agree with Theogene, howerver there is another, even greater difficult, problem to break, this social and historical construction called "androcentrism" form which men and womens suffer, even nowadays...

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