Approximately what percent of the STEM workforce

do women make up?

a. 53%

b. 38%

c. 25%

d. 22%
Approximately what percent of the STEM workforce
do women make up?
a. 53%

b. 38%

c. 25%

d. 22%
 The
Implementations of Sadia Alvi
Independent Research I GT
Gender Bias Within Howard High School

the STEM Field

Preview
Female students in the United States are less likely to take
STEM-related classes and therefore pursue fewer STEM
careers.

This can be caused by…

❖ Stereotypes influencing female’s decisions

❖ A teachers unintentional implementations of gender
bias
❖ The environment of the classroom
What is STEM?
❖ Definition: professional and technical support
professions in the field of computer science and
mathematics, engineering, and life and physical
sciences.
❖ When students have less experience in the early
years of their academic career along with a masculine
culture, there is a misrepresentation of females
within that class.
Stereotypes Against Females
❖ A major stereotype influencing females decisions to take interest in
careers relating to STEM is the thought that these occupations are for
males.
❖ This issue may be seen in
high school, with a 25
percent chance that
female high school
students would enroll in
math courses relative to
60 percent for males.
Stereotype Threat
Stereotype threat is a threat students experience when
they are in a position that could confirm negative
stereotypes about a social group they’re associated with.

❖ STEM classes can cause stereotype threat because

there tend to be fewer females taking those classes,
causing females to feel less belonging.
Teachers Unconscious Role in Gender Bias
Hidden curriculum: the concept that teachers
communicate with and teach each of their students in
ways that reinforce relations of gender, along with race
and social class.

❖ Teachers may give more attention to boys,

consequently encouraging them to speak up in class
and become more communicative.
How Can Gender Bias Affect Females Career Plans?
❖ Receiving less attention
from a teacher can easily
cause a female to skew
away from taking those
classes again, as these
interactions can create a
feeling of isolation and an
inadequate sense of
belonging.
Environment of a Classroom
❖ Other students within the
classroom, such as the number of
females who have previously
taken the course, can affect how
many females go into STEM
classes.
 Female Role Models in STEM
“Having those role models is absolutely
❖ Many female college essential.”
students have less role
“If you don’t necessarily have a good
models to look up to in representative sample of our population
this career in those leadership positions, it’s
sometimes difficult for students to identify
department. with them and with whatever their
backgrounds might be.”

-Jennifer Donovan
The Research Experience
❖ This Research experience has made searching for
credible sources more easier and efficient.
❖ The many annotated source entries and essays written
have allowed for an improvement in writing.
Learning Outcomes
❖ Growth in the understanding of women in STEM and
how barriers may exist between them and their goals
within that field.
Conclusion
❖ Although the issue of gender bias has curtailed over
the past few years, it is nevertheless and prominent
obstacle for females.
❖ Negative effects can be minimized by...
➢ Devising opportunities for STEM workers to visit classrooms and
discuss their research in interesting ways, especially women.
➢ Make an effort to call on both males and females an equal amount of
time.
➢ Having an awareness of current research and the reality of the
situation.
Questions?
Citations
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2017/08/women-in-tech-gender-parity/

https://i1.wp.com/psychlearningcurve.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/ThinkstockPhotos-490279888.png?resize=650%2C425

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS790US790&biw=1440&bih=821&tbm=isch&sa=1&ei=NnuhXMOGLZGZ_QbE
4bHACQ&q=girls+interest+in+tech+&oq=girls+interest+in+tech+&gs_l=img.3...22661.25998..27006...0.0..0.80.1398.23......0....1..gws
-wiz-img.......0j0i67j0i8i30j0i30.6R97CPrkZwY#imgrc=4Mh3kcpOGQBFFM:

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/brookings-now/2018/02/09/charts-of-the-week-advancing-women-and-girls-in-science/

https://tophat.com/blog/women-in-stem/