Yesterday I got to participate in a powerful event at work geared towards attracting more women into STEM degrees (Science, Technology, ENGINEERING, and Math). This is a REAL problem. Microsoft's #MakeWhatsNext video nails illustrating this and its worth a quick 3 minute watch.
Women make up over 50% of bachelor's degrees today. But here is where it becomes jaw-dropping.
6.7% of women graduate with STEM degrees.
6.7%.....
Heather Robertson, Senior Director at RC, delivered powerful opening remarks that featured this video to a room of 100 8th grade girls. Before she started her speech, she came over and asked me for a favor. The best speeches have an interactive audience so Heather planned to ask the girls to take a few minutes in their respective groups to discuss who inspired them, with plan to have a few volunteer their answers to the broad group. For those of us that have been 8th grade girls, you can imagine the kind of fear that puts into the heart of a teen (PUBLIC SPEAKING, AHHHHHH!!!!) So just in case, Heather asked me to be willing to provide an example of someone who inspired me.
It turns out, Heather didn't need the help. That room was full of 100 brilliant and INSPIRING girls who are ready to lead this world to a better place.
Since I had spent a few minutes thinking of my own answer though, I'm capturing it here.
Have you ever heard of Sally Ride?
In 1978 (the year I was born), Sally joined a little company called NASA.
On June 18, 1983, Sally became the first American woman to enter space as part of the Challenger 2nd expedition.
On October 24, 1998, Sally spoke at CY Stephens Auditorium and I, a sophomore in electrical engineering, was sitting in that audience, inspired. 17 years later, I'm still serving in the Aviation industry.
You know what though? Of the 5 girls in my group? 3 of them noted their parents. And to be really honest, that was my first thought as well as my parents ARE a very significant part of why I am the person I am today. Nothing illustrates the importance of a child's environment on shaping their future more than this. Every day is an opportunity to be making a difference in that next generation through the interactions of our village.
Wanna hear another staggering statistic, picked out of this amazing 2 min video by Boeing? Today, only 13% of the engineering jobs in the US are held by women.
13%. 13%.....
Ladies, we are BETTER than 6.7% graduating.
We are BETTER than 13% industry holding.
The problems within STEM fields are not the technical issues faced, but the environment we have to operate in. Women will fix work-life balance issues, but it won't happen until they demand it en masse.
#lightthefire #bethechange
As soon as you started with Sally Ride, I figured you'd mention hearing her at ISU. Glad she inspired you. It was a big deal having here there to speak, though I mostly remember it being the first time Joe wore his arm and met my parents. =)
ReplyDeleteKate was able to attend a Girls Leadershiop Academy held on-site at Medtronic this week (http://empowergirlsacademy.org/). She loved it, especially the added lab tours and product info. As we left, she said she wanted to work at Medtronic when she's older. Desipite how long Joe and I have worked at MDT, it was the first time she has said that; even with all the other STEM activities available to her.
With regard to work-life balance, in the book Drop the Ball by Tiffany Dufu, the author talks about how men can support women in work-life balance by also fixing theirs. Doing so reduces the stigma for women.