As part of International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2021 CIHT has asked leading CIHT STEM Ambassadors the key questions we need answered. In this Q&A we speak to Hazel Fraser, Director, The Training Folk Ltd.
Myth busting. I think that most girls think that STEM are the boring subjects. Even though there have been huge efforts made to make STEM subjects known, there is still the thought that they are the boys subjects. On many STEM events that I have attended, the speakers/presenters are predominantly male. We need to get female colleagues to take more interest in taking part in these events to promote careers in STEM for girls.
Make more links with schools/career ready/mentoring schemes, to get foot in the door. Heavily promote woman working in the industry. Be more visible at events such as career fairs. Also make what they are presenting interesting and interactive.
Make sure there is no pay gap, be more flexible with working hours, make the working environment less masculine.
Director, The Training Folk Ltd
A significant gender gap has persisted throughout the years at all levels of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines all over the world. Even though women have made tremendous progress towards increasing their participation in higher education, they are still under-represented in these fields.
Gender equality has always been a core issue for the United Nations. Gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls will make a crucial contribution not only to economic development of the world, but to progress across all the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well.
On 14 March 2011, the Commission on the Status of Women adopted a report at its fifty-fifth session, with agreed conclusions on access and participation of women and girls in education, training and science and technology, and for the promotion of women’s equal access to full employment and decent work. On 20 December 2013, the General Assembly adopted a resolution on science, technology and innovation for development, in which it recognized that full and equal access to and participation in science, technology and innovation for women and girls of all ages is imperative for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.
On 22 December 2015, the General Assembly adopted a resolution to establish an annual International Day to recognize the critical role women and girls play in science and technology communities. In welcoming the efforts of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and other relevant organizations that support and promote the access of women and girls and their participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics education, training and research activities at all levels decided to proclaim 11 February of each year the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
Find out more here https://www.un.org/en/observances/women-and-girls-in-science-day/
The opinions expressed are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of the CIHT or its members. Neither the CIHT nor any person acting on their behalf may be held responsible for the use which may be made of the information contained therein.
