Role of Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math

Women are increasingly at the forefront of many aspects of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Women’s participation in STEM is a global concern according to UNESCO. As per the data according to UNESCO only 35% of students in higher education worldwide are women. In India, nevertheless, women comprise 43.2% of the sample across UG, PG, and PhD programs. Work culture is shifting and changing that leads to new inventions, groundbreaking scientific discoveries blend art and technology and policies for safe and effective health which can communicate effectively to several audience through scientific findings. However, higher percentage of women stepped in to STEM in comparison with rest of the world with several challenges. Yet men continue to dominate women in all the upper levels of professions. Most of the school students both girls and boys prefer science and math courses as they leave high school and pursue engineering and science as their core subjects in college. In comparison with men, women are much less likely they intend to STEM. Dramatic differences were observed in students, only 20% of women achieving bachelor’s degree in science and engineering further declines in the transition to the workplace. McKinsey primary research suggested 40-160 million women globally may need to transition between occupations by 2030, into higher-skilled roles. Further, it is predicted that nearly 12 million Indian women could be staring at job losses owing to automation. Secondary research and interviews with stakeholders highlight gender responsive principles and host of factors that are changing the landscape of employment. Skilling outcomes and sector-specific job creation to fertility rates and family sizes can enable and harness women’s workforce participation.