What It's Like Being A Woman In A STEM Field | The Odyssey Online
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What It's Like Being A Woman In A STEM Field

​Yes, we do exist. No, we are not your stereotype.

Karina Krul
Nov 29, 2016
University of New Haven
16
What It's Like Being A Woman In A STEM Field
Blogging4jobs

I am a woman in college, working towards a career in a STEM field.

I have worked hard to get where I am. I have nights where I think about giving up and giving into the stress of my course load. Yes, I do fail. But I get up again.

I do not stay in my dorm every weekend. Occasionally, I have been to parties, and I do have a social life. I date, I go out with my friends, I join clubs, and I maintain a life, all while being a female science major.

I am involved on campus because I don’t spend 20 hours a day studying. I go out on the weekends just because I can; sometimes I even go out on weeknights. I am proud of everything I accomplish without sacrificing my life to accomplish it.

My life in college does not fit your stereotype. I am more than my looks and I keep my grades up. I know what I’m doing and where I want to go in life, and I maintain my ability to be a real person. Amazing!

My life once I am out of college, unfortunately, may follow many of your stereotypes, but not on my end.

I will probably make less money than a man for the same job. I will probably face discrimination in the workroom. I have already faced some in college.

I am aware of the stereotypes surrounding myself and my friends, and I refuse to let them define me.

I am a STEM major and I am a woman. Those two things are not mutually exclusive. I do not need to be a ‘woman STEM major,’ I am just a STEM major. I define myself by the work I do and the things I love. I define myself by the lesson I’ve learned and the challenges I’ve overcome. I define myself proudly and without remorse. I am not sorry that I intimidate you and I am not sorry you feel the need to put me down because of it. I am sorry, however, that you do not have the self-worth or confidence to be secure without my insecurity because I refuse to give that to you.

I will keep working harder than you for the same standing in the world, and I will do it with my head held high. I will keep believing in myself in a world that rarely does, and when I find those who support me I will cherish them. I will never let anyone tell me I am incapable.

I am a STEM major, and this is what it is like to be a woman too.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
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