#IDWGS Essay - She and Her: The new generation of STEM leaders by Ayodele Elizabeth

The men created, the women watched. Now it is time for the women to innovate and the men to catch up. As a young girl striving in the science world, I am no stranger to the gender gap in the science industry due to underrepresentation and underestimation. I learnt growing up that I was fortunate to have so many more opportunities to discover that those that came before me. Women were not trained for education or science or leadership but just as supporters, onlookers, and consumers. The potential of so many young brilliant girls were wasted because of the simple statement “She can’t because she is a girl”. Views like this were what widened the already existing gender gap in the science industry. Luckily, things have started to change. The problem wasn’t in the capacity of women but in the confidence and belief that they could and that they should. When engagement of women in the science world increased, a unique perspective and insight into scientific concepts emerged. The potential of women in science was unlocked and the industry never remained the same. There is still a long way to go to achieve equality but with the achievements of the old and coming generations of women in science, this goal cannot be too far.

Today, having the mindset of females’ incapacity in any field especially science is complete ignorance of the recent trends. Women are at the forefront of innovation in science pertaining to health, security, research, and many more. According to onlinemanipal.com, a recent survey showed that as of 2023, 26% of women are working in tech related jobs which is an impressive achievement for women in science and technology. From 2019 to 2023, there has been an addition of 80,000 women in the It industry. Gender bias and stereotypes have lost base as more women are proving them wrong and I can’t wait to be a part of it. For proper representation and recognition of women in science, this barrier has to be broken and can only be with the cooperative effort of all of us that are fighting for the same cause. There is no reason again not to succeed in the industry. There are so many role models that have shaped the way for the younger generation. They have fought the war so we can win the battles. Women like Professor Sarah Gilbert - who led the development of the Oxford/ Astra vaccine against COVID-19, Dr. Marianne W. Mureithe - the Chairman, department of medical microbiology & immunology and senior research fellow/lecturer and team leader at the KAVI Institute of Clinical Research (KAVI-ICR), University of Nairobi; graduate of the first Leadership Development Program cohort, Dr. Norah A. Obudho - Health integration and East Africa director, WomenLift Health, among many others have established the foundation for our presence to be felt in the science and technology industry.

Having more women in science leadership roles brings about invaluable benefits. I grew up hoping I could become like one of these wonderful women leaders in science. Women leaders have served as role models and an inspiration to me, the younger generation of science-inclined females. Seeing these women overcome stereotypes and obstacles because of their gender and rising higher than most men in the field gave me a kind of motivation that is driving me till today. Women leaders are also skilled in maintaining solid relationships and prioritizing collaboration between team members. This improves the scientific research process and efficiency of team members. Women leaders can also be vital in addressing global issues such as sexual and reproductive health and public health. Their unique perspectives bring about innovative and original techniques in solving these problems for the good of all. Having more female leaders in science will undeniably bring stability and sustainable growth and positively influence gender based STEM policies. For a more inclusive and equitable scientific community, more women should be nominated for leadership positions. The IT workforce can never maximize its full potential without women being involved either to lead or to support. Fostering a diverse workforce is essential in closing the economic gender divide and encouraging women to take on leadership roles in the scientific community. Research indicates that diverse companies exhibit greater creativity and productivity thereby increasing their revenue.

It is time to normalize women taking on leadership roles in science. The possibilities for women in science are endless. The next generation of science leaders is you and I, those striving to make global impact as females just as their predecessors. It is about time that simple statement is changed to “She can because she is a girl”.

About the Author

My name is Ayodele Elizabeth. I live in Nigeria and my state of origin is Ekiti State. I am in science department in my secondary school as an SS2 student. I am really ambitious about bridging the gender gap in science and achieving new feats despite of my age and gender.