Women Who Don't Choose STEM Majors, You're the Problem | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Women Who Don't Choose STEM Majors, You're the Problem

Be a part of the change!

168
Women Who Don't Choose STEM Majors, You're the Problem
HuffPost

A conversation that I was having with my roommate a while back sparked this article. He saw on his Facebook that one of his friends was looking for a major for college in the fall semester. She didn't really know what to go into, so of course, she asked around. When it was brought up to her that Engineering is an option, she shot it down. The reason? Because it is a male-filled field.


This really grinds my gears, but it is a shared idea that many women do not want to enter the STEM field because men have more of a share of the jobs. I do understand why it may seem intimidating. The National Girls Collaborative Project states that while women make up almost half the work force, only 29% are in the "science and engineering workforce". Spread out over many companies, it seems that men are more involved in some of these fields. Also, it has been engrained in society that these jobs are mostly for men. One little anecdotal example I can give is the population of students at my college, SUNY Polytechnic Institute. SUNY Poly is more of an engineering school, but it also offers a small mix of STEM and Non-STEM majors, such as Computer and Network Security or Business Administration. According to USNews.com, 64% of students who attend are male, while 36% of students are female. When walking around the campus, you are bound to see many more male students than female students. This ideal is also amplified when you enter an engineering classroom. Many times, you'll see one to three female students surrounded by 25 to 30 male students.


So why does this annoy me? It's because this narrative will continue if women do not join these other job fields. Sure it may be harder or scary working with people with opposing views as you, however, you'll be a part of a movement where either sexes can join whatever job fields that they choose. If I was female, I would without a doubt want to join something that interested me, regardless of who dominated the field thus far. I'd want to be the change that needs to occur. I'm glad to see that there are some women who have already stepped up and joined STEM fields (I'm talking about you Ms.Chemist or Ms.Engineer whose building a bridge), but we should have more women who want to take a stride into the Engineering and Sciences realm.

This isn't to say that if you decide to do something else, that you're immediately wrong and should not pursue a degree in a non-STEM related field. This is to say that there are opportunites for women in the STEM field. This is also to say that just because one type of person dominates something, that you shouldn't try and go against that "norm". Be the change in the area that you want to see!

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

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

444410
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

17951
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Moana's Top 10 Life Tips

"Moana" is filled with life lessons that involve far more than finding true love as many other Disney movies do.

42303
Animated image of a woman with long dark hair and tattoos
StableDiffusion

1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

Digital image of shiny gemstones in cased in gold. shiny things StableDiffusion

Tamatoa created a liar filled with shiny things simply for the purpose of tricking fish to enter and become his food. He too experiences a lesson in how easy it is to be tricked by shiny things when Moana distracts him by covering herself in glowing algae so Maui can grab his hook.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

7 Types Of Students You Will Meet In College

You wish you could be #5, but you know you're probably a #6.

21724
cool group of lazy college students in class
StableDiffusion

There are thousands of universities around the world, and each school boasts its own traditions and slogans. Some schools pride themselves on sports, while others emphasize their research facilities. While there is a myriad of differences among each and every school, there will always these seven types of students in class.

Keep Reading...Show less
Featured

15 Rhyme Without Reason Greek Life Function Ideas

When you have no ideas for what to wear to this date function

322136
A dog and a frog
Healthy Pets

I am going to a rhyme without reason date function and I have looked at so many different rhyming words and I figured there need to be a new list of words. At these functions, there are usually at least two rockers and boxers and an umpteenth amount of dogs and frogs. I have come up with a list of creative and unique ideas for these functions.

If you like what you see, get a shopping cart going with these costumes.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments