How Ester Melati Helps Breaking The Barriers for Girls in STEM
When she first started her degree in informatics engineering, Ester Melati did not know what to expect. She initially wanted to choose the art major, but eventually followed her parents’ advice to choose computer science. Like many other people, she considered informatics engineering a field for boys.
When she first started her degree in informatics engineering, Ester Melati did not know what to expect. She initially wanted to choose the art major, but eventually followed her parents’ advice to choose computer science. Like many other people, she considered informatics engineering a field for boys.
“I quickly realized how informatics engineering is mostly math and logic, and both are skills that belong to any gender. It’s also a little bit of art.”
Being aware of the gender stereotype, Ester, who concentrated on mobile development, always tries to find ways to help reduce the gender gap in technology. One way of her doing it is by becoming a mentor for Generation Girl, a non-profit aiming to introduce young girls to STEM.
“A year ago, I saw the mentor opening on LinkedIn and I applied. I helped develop the class materials and taught all-girls Beginner and Intermediate classes every Saturday until around early 2020,” told Ester.
When becoming a mentor, Ester witnessed firsthand how almost all girls who want to get into IT have a similar barrier, “In college, we felt reluctant to talk to a male peer or a male senior, mostly because we didn’t want to be seen as flirty. All the mentees I taught are smart and capable, but they can achieve their full potential when they have female mentors and peers that they feel comfortable to talk to.”
Now, Ester is working at Mekari as an Android Developer. This her second full-time job out of college after she moved to Jakarta from her hometown in Medan 3 years ago. She finds it easier to overcome the gender gap in a professional environment compared to college.
“In college, the boys might seem more advanced and knowledgeable about tech. At the workplace, the gap is not yet closed but has been reduced, because things are more merit-based. There is no more fear of being seen as “flirty” when asking for help because everyone is more mature and acts professionally.”
Ester is aware that breaking the barriers for girls in STEM is a marathon, not a sprint. She is doing what she can within her capacity, but it takes constant efforts from everyone involved to provide safe space and empower each other.
