#IDWGS Essay - EMPOWERING MINDS, BREAKING BARRIERS: CELEBRATING WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SCIENCE by Neha Sadawat

INTRODUCTION -

Gender Equality is still a distant and far-fetched dream.

The clarion call for equal demands and rights and opportunities, etc., etc., is not just a way of seeking attention or victimizing the whole community of women; rather, it seeks to give implications for the pathetic conditions of most of the women and girls. Yes, the words used couldn’t be better than these. Can one justify the treatment of women in most fields? And who are all to blame? The questions raised are ample, but the answers given are nil.

The International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated on February 11 every year to provide full and equal access to women and girls in the field of science. It aims to promote the participation of women and girls in the field of science. Innovation and technology have been the cornerstones of the world today. The day was recognized by the United Nations in 2015 to celebrate women and girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). As per research by AAUW, women and girls also need equal access to employment, as women make up only 35% of the STEM workforce. Men still outnumber women in the STEM field in college, with women making up only 20% of the total number of people getting a bachelor’s degree.

HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVES

The journey of women entering the field of science and, at the same time, excelling in it had not been an icing on the cake. While there has been some progress, societal barriers and gender disparities still persist. The learning environment at the school and college levels plays a greater role in the mindset of girls about their capabilities. Family responsibilities and workplace discrimination, from unamiable behavior to unequal pay and isolation in male-dominated places, discourage women and cast doubt on their interest in STEM fields.

Despite these harsh challenges, some notable women scientists have made significant contributions in the field of science –

• Marie Curie – She is the first woman Nobel Laureate and the only person till date to have won the Nobel prize for two fields (physics and Chemistry) for her works on radioactivity.

• Mae C. Jemison – A medical doctor and astronaut by profession, she became the first African American woman to go in space in 1992.

• Gertrude Elion – She received Nobel Prize for the development of drugs to treat leukemia and prevent kidney transplant rejection.

• A space mission will be led by two women scientists of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), for the first time in Indian history.

These examples help in removing barriers and underscore the vision of future generations in building their careers in the field of science and technology.

WAY FORWARD

As there are multiple reasons that contribute to the underrepresentation of women in the field of science, ample solutions are needed to tackle the problems and improve the imbalance. This can start in educational institutions by recruiting a greater number of female faculty that can attract more girls in science and technology. Improvements can be made in the culture of computer science and physics departments by changing admission requirements and presenting a broader overview with proper information about the field in introductory courses, which can lead to big gains in female student recruitment and retention.

There are also some notable programs that initiate efforts to curb gender disparities and build a more inclusive environment for women, such as Girls Who Code, Women in Science and Engineering-KIRAN (WISE-KIRAN), STEM for Her, and the Association for Women in Science.

CONCLUSION

As we go on to celebrate the day, it is not just an occasion like any other one that we recognize for one day and then everything comes to the status quo again. Instead, let us all unite to call

for an urgent need for action and a solution for a more equitable and opportunistic environment. In spite of all these initiatives and programs, more needs to be done to foster an inclusive and healthy mindset for women in STEM. Tackling societal pressures and gender stereotypes, several women fought against the odds to become a standard example of transformative power and fight for their passion in science. Let us all stand together to applaud the achievements of women as well as to dismantle the challenges that continue to hinder their ability to pursue their scientific dreams. By encouraging women and girls to showcase their talent in this field, we can foster a community of sciences where there can be proper usage and implementation of aspiring talents and where no girl has to give up on her ambition to be a scientist or an engineer, pertaining to societal expectations.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

This is Neha Sadawat. I'm in my first year of college, currently pursuing BA LLB Hons at Hidayatullah National Law University. My hobbies include playing chess, writing poetry etc. My professional goal is to be a judicial officer. I believe that women has been subject to various malafide behaviour by the society. The initial step would be to educate women about their rights and opportunities, by which they will be able to stand for themselves.