Women in STEM on twitter (now X): symbolic equality or structural change in Italian public discourse?

Purpose This study examines how public discourse on women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) evolves over time and across Italian regions, assessing whether increased online visibility reflects substantive cultural change or primarily symbolic inclusion. Drawing on Role Congruity Theory, it explores how digital narratives may promote inclusion while reproducing gendered expectations. Design/methodology/approach The study analyses 76,448 Italian tweets published between 2014 and 2022. A mixed computational approach combines sentiment analysis, emotion recognition and topic modelling comparisons to investigate temporal trends and emotional framing in discussions about women in STEM. Findings Results show a growth in public attention, primarily driven by event-based and institutional communication. Sentiment is predominantly positive or neutral, with minimal overt negativity. However, this positivity may reflect celebratory dissemination rather than critical engagement with structural inequalities. Trust and surprise emerge as dominant emotions, indicating the relevance of role models while suggesting that women's presence in STEM is still perceived as culturally “exceptional”. Visibility often depends on a limited number of symbolic women actors. Research limitations/implications The analysis is limited to Twitter (now X) and the Italian context, suggesting opportunities for cross-platform and cross-country extensions. Practical implications Visibility-based initiatives should be complemented by strategies addressing gendered expectations and structural barriers in STEM. Social implications Symbolic inclusion risks masking persistent inequalities, underscoring the need for more transformative approaches to gender equality in STEM. Originality/value The study provides novel empirical evidence on symbolic inclusion in digital discourse by integrating large-scale social media analysis with Role Congruity Theory.