![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sites.miamioh.edu\/edt431-531\/files\/2020\/10\/blog-5-draw-a-scientist.jpg?resize=486%2C273&ssl=1\")
Using the \u201cdraw a scientist\u201d test, numerous research studies\nhave analyzed the beliefs and stereotypes children have about scientists since\nthe 1960\u2019s (Terada, 2019). These studies show that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Initially, less than 1% of children drew female scientists, but this percentage increased to 28% on average in more recent studies (Terada, 2019).<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Girls are more likely than boys to draw female scientists. In 2016, 58% of girls drew female scientists whereas boys drew male scientists 90% of the time (Terada, 2019).
<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n- As students get older, however, perceptions of scientists change and more students tend to draw male scientists (Terada, 2019). <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Despite the efforts to promote equity in STEM in recent\nyears, student\u2019s perceptions of scientists have not significantly changed over the\npast several decades (Terada, 2019). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So, what is the status of women and minorities in STEM, how\ncan we encourage them to pursue STEM, and what should STEM awareness look like\nin the science classroom? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Status of Women and Minorities in STEM<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although the science and engineering workforce has become\nmore diverse, women and minority groups continue to be significantly\nunderrepresented in these fields (AAUW, n.d., NGCP, 2020). This is substantiated\nby recent data, which shows that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/sites.miamioh.edu\/edt431-531\/files\/2020\/10\/blog-5-women-in-stem-1024x589.png?resize=331%2C190&ssl=1\")
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employed persons by detailed occupation, sex, race, and Hispanic or Latino ethnicity,” Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey, Table 11, 2019 in AAUW, n.d.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n - Women make up half of the total U.S.\ncollege-educated workforce, but only 28% of the science and engineering\nworkforce (NGCP, 2020)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- A \u201cmajority of STEM workers in the U.S. are\nwhite (69%), followed by Asians (13%), blacks (9%) and Hispanics (7%). Compared\nwith their shares in the overall workforce whites and Asians are\noverrepresented; blacks and Hispanics are underrepresented in the STEM workforce\nas a whole\u201d (Funk & Parker, 2018). <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Ways to Encourage People to Pursue STEM<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since 1990, the US has experienced a rapid transition to an information-based economy and, as a result, STEM employment has grown by a staggering 79% – outpacing all other occupations (Funk & Parker, 2018). Continued growth of the STEM-based economy requires a diverse workforce, which not only positively affects problem-solving and innovation, but also increases company revenues (Master\u2019s in Data Science, 2020). <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- A \u201cmajority of STEM workers in the U.S. are\nwhite (69%), followed by Asians (13%), blacks (9%) and Hispanics (7%). Compared\nwith their shares in the overall workforce whites and Asians are\noverrepresented; blacks and Hispanics are underrepresented in the STEM workforce\nas a whole\u201d (Funk & Parker, 2018). <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Women make up half of the total U.S.\ncollege-educated workforce, but only 28% of the science and engineering\nworkforce (NGCP, 2020)<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- As students get older, however, perceptions of scientists change and more students tend to draw male scientists (Terada, 2019). <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Girls are more likely than boys to draw female scientists. In 2016, 58% of girls drew female scientists whereas boys drew male scientists 90% of the time (Terada, 2019).