Although recently the number of women in the STEM fields has grown, women are still in the minority. Many companies hire women because they need to diversify their teams. The cause of such a low number of women in STEM is fairly clear: boys are encouraged to experiment with science, math, building projects and technology from a young age (think Legos and science kits) while girls are encouraged to play house or dress-up. By no means am I saying that young girls do not, cannot, or should not play like young boys, but they are not encouraged to. This piece, however, is not one that will argue in support of or against women in STEM, but rather it will attempt to provide insight into exactly what it is like to be a woman who is pursuing a career in STEM.

1. You are one of a handful of women in almost every math or science course that you take.

Because of this you are often grouped with these other women (not that this is necessarily a bad thing).

2. You start saying “I don’t know how long I’ll last in [insert major here]”

because it prevents people from asking if you can really handle taking all of those math and science classes. I can indeed handle them.

3. Male students in your math and science classes are shocked when you can help them...

or get the answer correct before them. They will thus rarely ask for help because they assume that you will be unable to provide any assistance.

4. You are told that you probably only did well on the last test because you spent countless hours studying

and not because you understand the class. Yes, I probably did study, but I understood the material before I studied.

5. Male students ask to use your notes as an “example”

if notes must be turned in. This means that they were not paying attention of were scribbling illegibly during class while you took time on your notes knowing that they would be turned in. This could be the only time a male student asks for your help.

6. In group projects, you are assigned tasks that focus more on the appearance of the project

or presentation than those focused on the actual project.

7. You’re told that you’re guaranteed a job in the tech industry

before you have even begun your bachelor's degree and only because you are a woman.

This is a shortlist of the experience I, and other STEM women that I have talked to, have experienced on our journeys pursuing a STEM career. Despite some of the challenges I might face, I am excited to pursue my passions and excel as a STEM major.