In a 2005 article titled “Challenges and Opportunities for Women in Science and Engineering”, Maureen Byko explains the difficulties faced by women in scientific fields. She relates a story about a former President of Harvard University, Lawrence H. Summers, who stated in a speech that women had less natural aptitude for math and science than men, among other sexist comments. The fallout of this speech led to a national conversation about sexism in science. Byko also draws attention to the stigma surrounding the use of policies meant to help with work-life balance. This stigma can make life even more difficult for mothers in STEM. Unconscious bias and sexual harassment issues are also addressed in the article. Byko’s writing offers a detailed look into the issues facing women in STEM, and the ways we can approach solving these problems.
Article Spotlight: “Challenges and Opportunities”
ADVANCE highlights an important article on gender equity.
Leave a Reply