The S in STEM Stands for Sexism

As a woman, I understand I will be underestimated. I understand that when I go to a job interview, the company might choose a man over me because of unconscious biases. I understand that women’s accomplishments get overlooked or diminished because people believe we don’t work as hard. I understand that misogyny is still ever-present, not disappearing but instead changing to go by unnoticed. Like a virus, sexism mutates to hide itself, to pass Bechdel tests and diversity accountability but still perseveres in less obvious ways.

Affirmative action for women is one way sexism is being tackled, a way to include women in careers that are stereotyped for men — especially jobs in STEM. Instead, it prevailed in casual comments made by male co-workers: “You’re only here to fit the female quota,” or “You’re not as naturally smart” (as highlighted in jokes women in STEM make like @leahcarley on TikTok). The policy created to help women overcome the struggle of gender bias led to men becoming bitter that women get “more” opportunities than them. One of my friends told me that a STEM camp he joined was “over half women,” so “they don’t need more opportunities, there’s not sexism in STEM.”

Nothing could be further from the truth. Women still only make up about 28.8% of the research and development workforce (UNESCO Institute for Statistics), and they are 30% less likely to be hired in any field (Science X. Phys.org). Yet, men believe that sexism has suddenly disappeared overnight, a phantom creature that one outgrows as one gets older. Unlike the fear of fake monsters hiding in closets and under beds, sexism is very real, and has an effect on women in STEM fields. This is especially true for BIPOC women, who have to deal with underlying racism and sexism just to get a chance at a door that opens easily for white men. It always feels like we’re locked out, every key in our pocket incongruous. “You have to work twice as hard to get half as much” rings true when it comes to prejudice influencing one’s success in careers.

This challenge is especially hard when men don’t believe women who speak about their experiences with misogyny. Even the word “feminism” is controversial now, as if asking for equal rights has become a debatable topic. It’s tiresome that women’s rights are constantly being questioned by men who haven’t faced the same types of sexism as women and somehow believe their experiences override women’s.

Sexism still prevails in STEM and in society, mutating and changing to slip through the cracks and survive. Unfortunately, the stigma surrounding affirmative action is hard to ditch, as people see it as handouts rather than a way to combat the biases we all have. The only way to truly progress and make a change is not only to acknowledge the sexism that everyone undoubtedly has but also to take action to stop it in its tracks. This shouldn’t just be encompassed by policies like affirmative action, although they are important too, but by everyday action. Every time you hear someone make a misogynistic comment or invalidate women’s work, call the person out on it. In the workforce, pay attention to how many women, especially women of color, are around you as a start. Stay aware of every instance where prejudice could be playing a role, and try to remedy or call attention to it. We need to show people that sexism may act as a virus to survive, but we will become the vaccine.

Citations

UNESCO Institute for Statistics, Fact Sheet No. 51: Women in Science (2018): p. 2. staff, Science X. “Women Are 30 Percent Less Likely to Be Considered for a Hiring Process than Men.” Phys.org, Phys.org, 26 Mar. 2019, https://phys.org/news/2019-03-women-percent-hiring-men.html