Chapter 5: The Evolution Of The Chilly Climate For Women In Science

Over the past 50 years, policies have been implemented to improve women’s persistence in the male-dominated fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) (Carpenter& Acosta, 2005; Robelen, 2010; Rolison, 2003). Women’s representation has improved in many fields and at many degree levels—women represent more than half of all bachelor’s degrees and over half of all graduate programs (NSF, 2011; Rampart, 2012). Currently, there is relatively equal gender representation in the U.S. workforce, with men representing 52% of the workforce and women 48% (Beede et al., 2011). And yet women’s representation in the STEM workforce has remained stagnant over the last decade at 25% (Beede et al., 2011; NSF, 2011). This representation is even less in fields such as physics and engineering (NSF, 2011), and this percentage is even more alarming because, in relation to men, fewer women enter STEM majors as first-year college students. Furthermore, those women with STEM degrees are less likely to move on to STEM careers—moving to education or healthcare professions—compared to their male counterparts. According to Beede etal. (2011), 1 in 5 women with a STEM degree work in education occupations compared to 1 in 10 men; or put another way 46% of men with STEM degree work in STEM career, compared to only 26% of women.