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Is the pressure of being a woman in STEM extreme?
I've been considering going down a Stem path when I get to college but I'm worried I would be too intimidated to actively pursue my degree.
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6 answers
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Lisa’s Answer
I am not going to sugar coat. In a short answer, yes. But I'm going to be honest, I feel like being female in a male dominated field anywhere will come with pressure. But, there are some skills that will help you maneuver your career in STEM and you will succeed. Confidence is key. You will come across people (men and women) who might speak down to you. Stand firm and do not be intimidated. Speak to what you know and do not back down. You might need to work harder to get the recognition you deserve. Unfortunately that is the case sometimes. It is a battle we have faced for pay equality for decades. Be vocal but do not whine. Let your work speak for itself. If you encounter a toxic work environment, look for a new job. But, if you manage to find an employer that recognizes your hard work and dedication, you can absolutely thrive. I have been in STEM for 30 years and I find most of the few women that work here are harder working than most. We support each other and we carry the team. Get thick skin. You will need to be tough in the aspect that you will need to push yourself harder, but that only makes the journey more rewarding. I got my thick skin from the military. It has served me well in network operations. I have taken many men and women under my wing to teach them what I know. Don't quit because you're afraid. If you love STEM, do it. We need strong women to help pave the wave for young girls to follow in our footsteps. You CAN do it. And you CAN and WILL succeed. The other women said it best...rude and arrogant people exist everywhere, not just in STEM. Follow your passion and don't look back!
Updated
Shruti’s Answer
Given the lower number of women in STEM fields, this can actually be an advantage for you. Many STEM companies are keen to broaden the diversity of their workforce. So, instead of viewing this as a concern, I'd suggest you perceive it as a potential opportunity.
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Sheila’s Answer
Hi.
Thanks for the great STEM question. If you are excited about science and math, I would recommend you explore and highly consider a STEM career.
I am a woman who has spent over 30 years as an engineer and engineering leader. In high school, I was very good at math and science, and I remember it being recommended that I go into engineering. I really did not know much about engineering, and at the time it was not a typical field for a girl to enter. There was a “Women in Engineering” week-long summer program offered at a university in our State. It was for high school girls who wanted to learn more about engineering and science-based careers. So, I signed up for the program. I found that there were many different types of engineering and many types of roles which you could do as an engineer. I was inspired and went the engineering route.
I am a mechanical engineer. Mechanical engineering is a fantastic foundation for many roles. I had the opportunity to work in the automotive, defense, and agile business transformation industries. Initially, I leveraged my skills in the thermal area where I worked on requirements creation, vehicle development/validation testing (including testing at our proving grounds and out in Death Valley), building analytical models, and designing/releasing HVAC/Powertrain Cooling related systems. Next, I had the opportunity to work as a Vehicle Systems Integration engineer for Propulsion systems which included early vehicle concept, development, and production activities. After this, I shifted to system safety role which included software, controls, and physical part safety. Next, I led a team for the Advanced System Integration of defense/military vehicles and projects. Currently, I am running my own company and fostering business agile transformations. The mechanical engineering foundation enabled me to have a wide variety of career experiences.
There are many types of engineering – Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, Software, Industrial, Manufacturing and more. For mechanical engineering, there are also many sub-focus areas, so you can pick the area(s) that you find the most interesting. Some examples include: Thermal systems/fluids, Mechanical Structures, Materials, and Automotive design.
STEM careers can be very exciting. I have enjoyed my long career and would not change the path I took.
Best wishes to you as you explore your future STEM career.
Thanks for the great STEM question. If you are excited about science and math, I would recommend you explore and highly consider a STEM career.
I am a woman who has spent over 30 years as an engineer and engineering leader. In high school, I was very good at math and science, and I remember it being recommended that I go into engineering. I really did not know much about engineering, and at the time it was not a typical field for a girl to enter. There was a “Women in Engineering” week-long summer program offered at a university in our State. It was for high school girls who wanted to learn more about engineering and science-based careers. So, I signed up for the program. I found that there were many different types of engineering and many types of roles which you could do as an engineer. I was inspired and went the engineering route.
I am a mechanical engineer. Mechanical engineering is a fantastic foundation for many roles. I had the opportunity to work in the automotive, defense, and agile business transformation industries. Initially, I leveraged my skills in the thermal area where I worked on requirements creation, vehicle development/validation testing (including testing at our proving grounds and out in Death Valley), building analytical models, and designing/releasing HVAC/Powertrain Cooling related systems. Next, I had the opportunity to work as a Vehicle Systems Integration engineer for Propulsion systems which included early vehicle concept, development, and production activities. After this, I shifted to system safety role which included software, controls, and physical part safety. Next, I led a team for the Advanced System Integration of defense/military vehicles and projects. Currently, I am running my own company and fostering business agile transformations. The mechanical engineering foundation enabled me to have a wide variety of career experiences.
There are many types of engineering – Chemical, Mechanical, Electrical, Systems, Software, Industrial, Manufacturing and more. For mechanical engineering, there are also many sub-focus areas, so you can pick the area(s) that you find the most interesting. Some examples include: Thermal systems/fluids, Mechanical Structures, Materials, and Automotive design.
STEM careers can be very exciting. I have enjoyed my long career and would not change the path I took.
Best wishes to you as you explore your future STEM career.
Updated
Ciara-Beth’s Answer
As a girl who has been coding since she was 14, studied computer science in college and now works in technology, I feel like I can offer some insight here. Is the field male-dominated? Absolutely. Should that be a reason you don't pursue a career in a field you're passionate about? Absolutely not!
If you enjoy STEM subjects, there's no reason to be intimidated. Anything you don't already know is an opportunity to learn. I have absolutely felt intimidated at times when I'm facing a project or assignment, but that's usually because I don't have the skill or the knowledge that I think I'll need to complete the work. The most important thing you need to navigate this is to be willing to ask for help or advice, 99% of people I've encountered are always happy to either help me themselves or to point me in the right direction, regardless of their gender identity.
If it's of any comfort to you, while the field is male-dominated, there are other women in the field too, and in my personal experience, 99% of men I've encountered are focused on the work we do and they're not intimidating, they're often very helpful. You'll encounter rude people along the way, both men and women, but that's not industry specific.
I hope this helps!
If you enjoy STEM subjects, there's no reason to be intimidated. Anything you don't already know is an opportunity to learn. I have absolutely felt intimidated at times when I'm facing a project or assignment, but that's usually because I don't have the skill or the knowledge that I think I'll need to complete the work. The most important thing you need to navigate this is to be willing to ask for help or advice, 99% of people I've encountered are always happy to either help me themselves or to point me in the right direction, regardless of their gender identity.
If it's of any comfort to you, while the field is male-dominated, there are other women in the field too, and in my personal experience, 99% of men I've encountered are focused on the work we do and they're not intimidating, they're often very helpful. You'll encounter rude people along the way, both men and women, but that's not industry specific.
I hope this helps!
Updated
Lindsey’s Answer
I have to agree that if you are interested in math, solving problems and have the skills/interest to follow a STEM path I would highly recommend it. Careers in STEM are only going to continue to grow/evolve and change, they are somewhat always in demand. I come from the Software recruiting side of things and just being transparent, not everyone is able to handle a career in the STEM field...there is a reason when other industries are down, Software companies/software engineering positions are still open and being hired for. In the U.S. we simply do not have enough people (regardless of gender) to fill all of the STEM jobs available.
To be honest, a lot of fields are fairly male dominated in the business world. In STEM is it more skewed than maybe other fields? Yes. However, you will find the right peers who are supportive, helpful, that group of people you can depend on (regardless of gender) etc...you will find the right company that also values and welcomes people from all walks of life. Being confident in your abilities truly applies to any professional field. Your hard work and results will be visible. If you have the passion and interest in a STEM career go for it!
There will be many points in your college and professional career that you will feel intimidated, but try to look at those as opportunities to grow and learn vs. being intimidated. It is okay to fail (especially in software engineering, more failures sometimes happen before the success). Try to switch your thinking from intimidating to this is an opportunity to learn/grow. Don't get me wrong I have been put on assignments/projects I didn't think I was qualified for (i.e. intimated) but I knew deep down my leaders wouldn't put me on those if they didn't think I could succeed. Find a great professor, TA, club, mentor, study buddy, etc...that can help boost your confidence and that you know is only challenging you in order to help you see that you can do it, you can succeed at a difficult task. Once you start to see those results and that you are doing some of the things that maybe intimated you, the confidence will come. Then at that point you can start helping others, and that feeling of passing on knowledge is amazing. Having confidence in yourself and your work will be important for the rest of your career!
To be honest, a lot of fields are fairly male dominated in the business world. In STEM is it more skewed than maybe other fields? Yes. However, you will find the right peers who are supportive, helpful, that group of people you can depend on (regardless of gender) etc...you will find the right company that also values and welcomes people from all walks of life. Being confident in your abilities truly applies to any professional field. Your hard work and results will be visible. If you have the passion and interest in a STEM career go for it!
There will be many points in your college and professional career that you will feel intimidated, but try to look at those as opportunities to grow and learn vs. being intimidated. It is okay to fail (especially in software engineering, more failures sometimes happen before the success). Try to switch your thinking from intimidating to this is an opportunity to learn/grow. Don't get me wrong I have been put on assignments/projects I didn't think I was qualified for (i.e. intimated) but I knew deep down my leaders wouldn't put me on those if they didn't think I could succeed. Find a great professor, TA, club, mentor, study buddy, etc...that can help boost your confidence and that you know is only challenging you in order to help you see that you can do it, you can succeed at a difficult task. Once you start to see those results and that you are doing some of the things that maybe intimated you, the confidence will come. Then at that point you can start helping others, and that feeling of passing on knowledge is amazing. Having confidence in yourself and your work will be important for the rest of your career!
Updated
Aliza’s Answer
Being a woman in STEM can be difficult, but in my opinion, it's very rewarding. I also think that this dynamic is changing every year as more women join the field and it's inspiring to see. The biggest piece of advice that I can give you is to have confidence in your skills and who you are (even when that's really hard). If you are interested in math and science and want to be in a STEM field, don't let any preconceived notions hold you back from pursuing what you enjoy.
Having talented people like you is how we drive change in STEM!
Having talented people like you is how we drive change in STEM!