April 29, 2003
A: FROM MODERATOR SARAH SHIRK IN IL
There has been plenty of data collected on SET careers with gender breakdowns. You might take a look at the National Science Foundation web site (www.nsf.gov) and read some of the reports they have produced. Also the National Council for Research on Women (NCRW) published a report called Where are Women and Girls in Science, Engineering, and Technology? This report was helpful to me because it showed that there are many reasons that the genders are imbalanced in SET careers, and often the reasons are so subtle, they are hard to pinpoint. The careers you choose are often based on cultural expectations. What we at GEM-SET expect is for every person to be able to choose the career that is best for them, regardless of what other people may think. This report raises many issues that GEM-SET is trying to address. Having a female mentor can make the climate more comfortable so we encourage young women to find female mentors both in the GEM-SET program and beyond as you start your careers.
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April 28, 2003
A: FROM MENTOR JAN ZANETIS IN TN
I don't know the exact figures, but in my career I mingle with a lot of
technology folks, science and some engineers. I see a lot more women in
science careers than the other two. Being at a research university, there
are many women involved in science studies and healthcare. On the other
hand, at technology gatherings, there are very few. In a small group, I am
sometimes the only one. Having been a teacher for most of my life, I saw
many girls interested in technology, bury that enthusiasm between middle and
high school due mainly to peer pressure and the misconception that
technology is a "guy thing."