Women In STEM: Closing The Gap With Inspirational Apparel
Did you know that women make up only 27% of the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce in the United States? This number is shocking, especially considering that women make up half of the population.
We believe everyone should have an opportunity to pursue their dreams, regardless of gender. That's why we are dedicated to promoting women in STEM careers.
In this blog post, we will discuss some of the challenges women face in STEM careers and ways to overcome them. We will also highlight some successful women who have broken through barriers to achieve great things. But before we get started, let's first look at what a woman in STEM means and discuss why it's important to recognize women in STEM.
What Does Woman In STEM Mean?
Women in STEM refers to women working in or studying for a career in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Men traditionally dominate these fields, and many women face challenges such as bias and discrimination when pursuing a STEM career.
However, women in STEM are becoming increasingly visible, and there are many inspiring stories of women who have made great contributions in STEM fields.
How Many Females Are In STEM?
As we mentioned earlier, women make up only 27% of the STEM workforce in the United States. This number is even lower for some fields, especially computer science.
In fact, even though women make up over half of all undergraduate students in the U.S., only 18% of computer science undergraduate degrees are awarded to women each year. +
Why Is It Important To Recognize Women In STEM?
There are several reasons why it's important to recognize women in STEM. Some of the key reasons are:
- Women in STEM are role models for future generations of women. By showing young girls that they can achieve anything they set their minds to, we can inspire more young women to pursue their dreams in STEM fields.
- By recognizing and celebrating the achievements of women in STEM, we can help to combat the bias and discrimination that still exists today. By highlighting the success stories of these brave women, we can help to break down the social barriers that have prevented women from achieving greatness in STEM fields.
- The low representation of women in STEM means we have a wealth of untapped talent. By recognizing women in STEM, we can encourage more women to pursue a career in STEM and, in turn, create a more diverse, innovative, and productive workforce.
STEM Careers
As mentioned earlier, STEM refers to several different fields, including science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. So a STEM job refers to any job that falls into one of these categories.
Some of the most popular STEM careers today include:
- Physicist
- Astronomer
- Biochemist
- Medical scientist
- Sociologist
- Geoscientist
- Biomedical engineer
- Data scientist
- Computer programmer
- Chemical engineer
While these are just a few of the many exciting STEM careers available today, there are countless other opportunities for women in STEM fields.
Check out your local community college, university, or online degree programs to find the perfect STEM career for you!
What Are The Challenges Faced By Women In STEM?
While the number of women entering STEM fields today is increasing, there are still several challenges that many women face in STEM.
Some of these challenges include:
Male-Dominated STEM Disciplines
Many STEM disciplines, such as computer science and engineering, remain heavily dominated by men.
In fact, according to The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES), just 20% and 22% of undergraduate computer science and engineering degrees, respectively, are awarded to women in the US.
This lack of gender diversity can create a negative and unwelcoming work environment for women and prevent them from advancing their STEM careers.
Retaining Women In STEM Studies
One of the biggest challenges facing women in STEM is the high rate of attrition and dropout. After years of hard work and many advances, many women in STEM still leave the field, often before they even reach their full potential.
This is caused by many factors, such as the lack of female mentors or role models in STEM fields, stereotypes and bias against women in STEM, and the perceived difficulty of STEM degrees.
These are just a few of the many challenges faced by women in STEM today. By recognizing these challenges and taking steps to overcome them, we can help ensure a more diverse, inclusive, and equal future for women in STEM.
Who Are Famous Women In STEM?
Countless women in STEM have made great contributions to their fields and inspired others to pursue careers in STEM.
Some of these famous women in STEM include:
Marie Curie
Marie Curie was a pioneering physicist and chemist who won two Nobel Prizes - one in 1903 and the other in 1911!
The first Nobel Prize was for her work with radiation and for discovering the elements radium and polonium. The second Nobel Prize was for her work on radioactivity and her determination to prove that atoms could have different isotopes.
Her work led to the discovery of new elements, paved the way for nuclear physics, and helped to further our understanding of radioactivity and X-rays.
Today we celebrate Marie Curie's accomplishments and remember her as one of the most accomplished women in STEM through our Marie Curie collection:
Marie Curie Trailblazer Plush Doll
Marie Curie Short Sleeve Trailblazer Tee
Marie Curie Long Sleeve Trailblazer Tee
Pajamas - Marie Curie Trailblazer Print
Marie Curie Embroidered Trailblazer Sweatshirt
Through our Marie Curie collection, we hope young girls get inspired to pursue careers in STEM and achieve great things like Marie Curie!
Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson was a mathematician who worked for NASA during the Space Race. She is best known for her work on the trajectory of Alan Shepard's Mercury spacecraft and the Apollo 11 mission to the moon.
In 2015, Katherine was awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama for her contributions to the field of science.
Today we continue Katherine's legacy through our Katherine Johnson collection:
Katherine Johnson Short Sleeve Trailblazer Tee
Katherine Johnson Long Sleeve Trailblazer Tee
Katherine Johnson Embroidered Trailblazer Sweatshirt
Through our Katherine Johnson collection, we hope young girls get inspired to pursue careers in mathematics and the sciences - just like Katherine - and that they see that anything is possible if you dream big and work hard!
Mae Jemison
Mae Jemison is an American astronaut who was the first woman of color to go to space. She is a physician and former NASA astronaut who flew on the Space Shuttle Endeavor in 1992.
Mae has also worked as a chemical engineer and founded The Jemison Group, Inc. – a company that focuses on technology research and development for space exploration.
In 1993 and 2004, she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame and the International Space Hall of Fame, respectively.
Through her work as an astronaut and engineer, Mae has inspired countless women and girls to pursue careers in STEM.
We honor and recognize Mae Jemison's accomplishments through our Mae Jemison collection:
Mae Jemison Trailblazer Plush Doll
Mae Jemison Short Sleeve Trailblazer Tee
Mae Jemison Long Sleeve Trailblazer Tee
Pajamas - Mae Jemison Trailblazer Print
Mae Jemison Embroidered Trailblazer Sweatshirt
We hope that through our Mae Jemison collection, young girls get inspired to pursue careers in STEM – just like Mae!
Jane Goodall
Jane Goodall is a world-renowned primatologist. She is best known for her 55-year study of chimpanzee social and family life in Tanzania, which has provided invaluable insights into the behavior and cognitive abilities of our closest living relatives.
In 2002, Jane was named a United Nations Messenger of Peace, the highest honor bestowed by the UN. In 2004, she was named a Dame of the Order of the British Empire and has received numerous other honors and awards throughout her career.
Jane's scientific research on chimpanzees has inspired generations of women to pursue careers in science.
We are proud to recognize her achievements through our Jane Goodall collection:
Jane Goodall Trailblazer Plush Doll
Jane Goodall Short Sleeve Trailblazer Tee
Jane Goodall Long Sleeve Trailblazer Tee
Pajamas - Jane Goodall Trailblazer Print
Jane Goodall Embroidered Trailblazer Sweatshirt
We hope that through our Jane Goodall collection, young girls get inspired to pursue careers in science and make a difference in the world.
Amelia Earhart
Amelia Earhart was a trailblazing aviator and the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932. She set numerous aviation records throughout her career, and she was an advocate for the advancement of women in aviation.
Amelia inspired generations of women to pursue careers in aviation, and her legacy continues today.
We are proud to recognize Amelia Earhart's accomplishments and contributions to the field of aviation through our Amelia Earhart collection:
Amelia Earhart Trailblazer Plush Doll
Amelia Earhart Short Sleeve Trailblazer Tee
Amelia Earhart Long Sleeve Trailblazer Tee
Pajamas - Amelia Earhart Trailblazer Print
Amelia Earhart Embroidered Trailblazer Sweatshirt
We hope that by wearing our apparel, young girls will be inspired to blaze their own paths..
Sally Ride
Sally Ride was a world-renowned physicist and engineer. She was the first American woman in space and logged more than 343 hours in space throughout her career.
Sally also participated in the Space Shuttle Challenger and Columbia disasters investigations - the only person to participate in both investigations.
After her death in 2012, Sally was posthumously awarded by President Barack Obama the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2013.
Sally Ride's accomplishments as an astronaut and scientist have inspired generations of women to pursue careers in STEM, and her legacy continues to live on today.
We are proud to represent her in our Sally Ride Short Sleeve Trailblazer Tee.
We hope that by recognizing her through this special apparel, young girls get inspired to pursue careers in Physics and Engineering - fields that Sally Ride excelled in.
Bessie Coleman
Bessie was a world-renowned pilot. She was the first African American woman to get a pilot's license and the first woman of Native American descent to earn a pilot's license.
Coleman overcame many obstacles to achieve her dream of becoming a pilot - including going to France to earn a pilot's license. She died in an airplane accident in 1926 and is remembered as the "Brave Bessie" for her "dangerous" air shows.
Bessie's accomplishments as an aviator have inspired generations of women to pursue careers in aviation.
Today we recognize Bessie through our Bessie Coleman Long Sleeve Trailblazer Tee.
In recognition of Sylvia Earle's accomplishments, we are proud to represent her in our Sylvia Earle Short Sleeve Trailblazer Tee.
We hope that through this special apparel, young girls get inspired to pursue careers in STEM, especially oceanography and exploration.
Closing The STEM Gap
As we have seen, many inspiring women have made significant contributions to the field of STEM. Unfortunately, women are still underrepresented in this field.
In order to close the STEM gender gap, we need to:
- Encourage more women to pursue careers in STEM
- Address the barriers that prevent women from succeeding in STEM
- Promote the successes of women in STEM
- Create a more inclusive environment in STEM fields
- Invest in girls' education in STEM
By taking these steps, we can encourage more women to pursue careers in STEM and help close the gender gap in this important field.
Inspire Young Girls Today
Women have made significant contributions to the field of STEM. However, they are still underrepresented in this field.
One good way to close the gender gap in STEM is by inspiring young girls to pursue careers in STEM. And what better way to do that than through our Piccolina Trailblazer Collection?
This special collection features apparel inspired by incredible women in STEM - women who have overcome obstacles and achieved great things.
We hope that this collection will inspire young girls to pursue their STEM dreams!
