Fairness vs Sameness
When it comes to modern society, everyone faces challenges. Some people face challenges more than others. Women, people of color, the LGBTQ+ community, and people with disabilities face hardships that others do not have to combat through their life. In the eyes of some, equality may be the ideal end goal for how they want society to be. In reality, EQUITY is everyone needs. Equality refers to equal treatment or sameness; but equity means the fair and impartial treatment to everyone.
The Problem in STEM
STEM fields in college and in professional career paths have a diversity issue. There is a lack of not only women, but minorities in general in these professions. (onlinecolleges.net)
In college, women make up:
- 19.2% of engineering students
- 18.2% of computer science students
In college, other minorities make up:
- 3.1% of engineering students
- 4.8% of computer science students
These statistics are INCREDIBLY LOW. These fields are dominated by white men. While that is good for them, it is not good for women and other minorities.
In the professional workforce, minorities compose a very small percent of STEM careers: (motherboard.vice.com)
- 9% Black
- 7% Hispanic
What Can We Do as Teachers?
Diversity in society is important, and it’s also vital in these new careers that we want our students to be a part of. Having this diversity can create new and imaginative ideas, gaining insight to consumers, and having good representation across the spectrum (onlinecolleges.net).
Incorporate STEM learning activities into your classroom. This can further engage ALL your students into what STEM really is and get them passionate about learning.
Help place after school programs into your district that can further the knowledge of STEM in your students. By doing workshops and inviting local engineers, you can expand the minds of your students and help find their passions and interests.
Encourage your students to get scholarships to college that allow them to pursue their STEM interests. There are many different programs that will give money to women and other minorities.
Mentorships can also have a big impact on student’s perceptions. Seeing a person like them (women, person of color, disabled, LGBTQ+) can motivate students into going into STEM fields.
Diversity makes our world STRONGER! As science teachers, let’s encourage ALL our students to pursue STEM. Women, POC, the disabled and LGBTQ+ community. @AnnMacKenzie #EDT431 #NSTA
— Mr. Seballos (@mr_seballos) November 14, 2018
Michael, first I would like to say how much I enjoyed reading your blog. The title is awesome (How could you not like a Beyoncé influenced title). All the statistics about women and minorities in science are crazy when you get to see all the percentages. Like minorities only make up 3.1 percent of engineering in college or 4.8 percent of computer science students in college. The picture that shows the number of girls that express interest in middle school about STEM compared to the girls that choose computer science as their major is crazy. How do we go from 74 percent to 0.4 percent is that short of a time? I also enjoyed the video you used in your blog it is very informative and gives good information about encouraging young girls to engage in STEM activities. My question for you is, why do you think the percentages of girls interested in STEM can decrease that much in just a matter of the years between junior high and senior year of high school? Overall great post!
Bailey