Top Stories,Reaching for the stars: ‘We know the answers’ to support women in STEM

Reaching for the stars: ‘We know the answers’ to support women in STEM

By [Journalist’s Name] 11 February 2025

We know how to support more women and girls in STEM. The question is: Will we do it?

For decades, women have been massively underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

Now, a new report from the International Labour Organization (ILO) reveals that the gender gap in STEM is widening, not narrowing.

The report, “Women in STEM: A global analysis,” finds that women make up just 28% of the global STEM workforce. This is down from 30% in 2015.

The report also finds that women are less likely than men to be promoted to senior positions in STEM fields. Only 20% of STEM managers are women.

The underrepresentation of women in STEM is a major problem for two reasons. First, it means that we are missing out on the talents and skills of half of the population. This is a waste of human capital that we can ill afford.

Second, the gender gap in STEM sends a message to girls and young women that they are not welcome in these fields. This can discourage them from pursuing STEM careers, which can have a negative impact on their economic opportunities and their ability to contribute to society.

The ILO report identifies a number of factors that contribute to the gender gap in STEM. These include:

• Stereotypes and biases: Girls and young women are often discouraged from pursuing STEM careers because of stereotypes about these fields being “for boys.”
• Lack of female role models: There are few female role models in STEM fields, which can make it difficult for girls and young women to envision themselves in these careers.
• Discrimination: Women in STEM fields often face discrimination, which can make it difficult for them to advance in their careers.

The ILO report makes a number of recommendations to address the gender gap in STEM. These include:

• Challenging stereotypes and biases: We need to challenge the stereotypes and biases that discourage girls and young women from pursuing STEM careers.
• Increasing the visibility of female role models: We need to increase the visibility of female role models in STEM fields so that girls and young women can see that these careers are open to them.
• Addressing discrimination: We need to address the discrimination that women in STEM fields face. This includes providing them with equal opportunities for promotion and pay.

The ILO report is a call to action. We know how to support more women and girls in STEM. The question is: Will we do it?

Here are some additional resources that you may find helpful:

• International Labour Organization (ILO)
• Women in STEM: A global analysis
• Association for Women in Science
• National Girls Collaborative Project

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Top Stories a new article on 2025-02-11 12:00 titled “Reaching for the stars: ‘We know the answers’ to support women in STEM”. Please write a detailed article on this news item, including any relevant information. Answers should be in English.

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