#IDWGS Essay - EXPLORING THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SCIENCE by K.Hemalatha

Abstract:

In todays’ world we know that women are grabbing as many opportunities as they could. these empowerment needs to be implemented in all the fields particularly in science field as well. Because as we all know women are being dominated in many of the fields up till the date. Even though it’s the women who’s trying to be independent and trying to stand on their own, but still there exists quite some problems in fulfilling their aspirations which mainly involves, this gender discrimination which needs to be taken care of.

The field of science, technology, engineering and mathematics has long been dominated by men, with women often underrepresented and undervalued. This essay will explore the reasons for the lack of gender diversity in this field, focusing on women and girls, and suggest ways to address the issue, how important role women had played in the field of science with reference to the historic moments.

Introduction:

Women in science face several challenges, including a lack of work-home balance, discrimination, harassment, and a hostile work environment. Society reinforces the idea that boys and girls should pursue different career paths, discouraging girls from developing an interest in STEM subjects. The media often portrays scientists as geeky, socially awkward, and detached individuals, making STEM careers seem unappealing to girls. Women have fewer role models to inspire their interest in STEM fields, and teachers may pass on their math anxiety to their students, particularly girls. Teachers may grade girls harder for the same work and assume that girls need to work harder to achieve the same level as boys, leading to a self-fulfilling prophecy where girls believe they are not as capable as boys in STEM subjects where women leave academic careers in STEM fields at a higher rate than men, is also a significant challenge. To address these challenges, it is essential to promote equitable encouragement and educational opportunities for girls, emphasize strong and visible role models of women and women of color in STEM fields, and provide professional development to teachers to address implicit and systemic biases

Challenges faced by the women in the field

Gender bias-
Minimal Mentorship and sponsorship
Unclear promotion Paths-
Discrimination and harassment

There had been many incidences where women have been participated and women have been won and have played a significant role in the development of science and technology. If we look at the history we will find remarkable ideas came out of the brilliant minds of women and girls in science. Despite this, we cannot find many women in the field of science and technology.

Let us look at some of the women who have excelled in the field of science.

Bhumika Chawla: As we all know, she was the first indian- origin women aeronautical enginerr bailing from Haryana, India. She was the chosen engineer of NASA to go to the international space station. She is the first Indian and second Indian to go to space after Rakesh Sharma.

b. Vijayalakshmi: for her research she studied relativistic wave equation and their proportions. She expired on 12th may 1985 t the age of 33 due to cancer. She had 11 papers to her credit in international Journals.

Kamal Ranadive: This recipient of the padmabhushan established the first tissue culture laboratory IN India at the Indian cancer research centre. she got watumal foundation award for her work in the field of leprosy. She founded the Indian women scientist association.

Marie curie, physic and chemist: Chief among Curie’s many achievements include discovering radio activity and inventing a Mobile-x ray unit that was employed duting the world war I With her husband. Curie also discovered the radioactive elements. She became the first women to win a nobel prize.

Katherine Johnson was a NASA mathematician who played a key role in several NASA missions during the Space Race, including calculating the trajectory needed to get the Apollo 11 mission to the moon and back.

Recommendations;

To spread the awareness to the girls and women and their supporters and family to help in motivation
Conducting programmes which conveys the message in support of women education.
To teach the intellectual skills, including special skills which are required
To help girls recognize their career relevant skills.
To encourage high schools girls take calculus, physics, chemistry, computer science engineering classes when available
Teach Students about stereotype threat and promote a growth mindset environment.

Conclusion:

Women play an very important role in the field of science and technology if they’re provided with the encouragement from either it is their own parents nor the own Country for the participation along with their own determination to achieve their goals and aspirations. So they need to be given the recognition and not the discrimination and the dominations. And it is realized that women in the spheres of science and technology, does not have lot of possible explanations of the inequality, gender bias, prejudices and unequal distribution of resources among the ones.

There are different ways to figure out the solutions for the problem which involves mainly the monitoring, paper informing and creating necessary work conditions for both men and women to improve the situation in the country. We need to understand the importance of women in every field and remove the discrimination as much as possible.

About the Author

I'm K.Hemalatha and I'm currently pursuing 4th year BBA LLB from christ University I'm grateful that u got an opportunity to write an essay on women in field.