WWW.PROFESSIONALWOMANMAG.COM PROFESSIONAL WOMANS MULTICULTURAL MAGAZINE
111
WOMEN IN STEAM
T
he metaverse is opening doors for more and more people to work and play in virtual worlds. And within this parallel digital universe, were already starting to see virtual reality mirror actual reality in more ways than one - most notably with a lack of equality. We know that with the exploration of an exciting new world comes great responsibility. And in that truth lies the possibility of creating a more accessible and equitable existence. So how can we leave the inequities of the real world out of the virtual world? The answer, in part, is by getting more girls and women into STEAM to help us bridge the digital divide. The good news is that colleges and universities are beginning to make a very deliberate, concerted effort to recruit more young women for computer science majors. This cant come soon enough. In 2021, young women graduating from college earned 18 percent of the nations computer science degrees, down from 37 percent in 1984. Current trends show the role of women in tech has declined over the last 35 years, and many women drop out of tech by the age of 35. But interest in STEM careers seems to be rising. According to Zippia Research, in 2017, 74 percent of girls expressed a desire for a STEM career. That year, women held 49.7 percent of STEM-related bachelors degrees, but this didnt necessarily translate into a tech career, as compared to men. Career opportunities in STEM and STEAM have to come from more than interest and aptitude. They also have to come from equal access. Inequality is often fueled by policies created by governments, institutions, and corporations that raise roadblocks and barriers to access. These barriers are often based on gender, race, unconscious bias, and even zip codes. The subsequent policies suppress innovation and, as many corporations are discovering, stifle financial bottom lines. Forbes 500 companies - with a purchasing power of five trillion USD - discovered in 2020 that plac- ing women in leadership roles resulted in a 66 percent increase in ROI. Another report, in 2017, showed that organizations with at least eight out of 20 female man- agers gained 34 percent of their revenues from inno- vative products and services. Young women are paying attention to women-run organizations. Recruiting for the next generation of college students, colleges and universities report that
To the Metaverse and Beyond:
Access to STEAM Crosses the Digital Divide
By Diane McClelland, Dr. Angelina Dayton, Dr. Tom Furness III, Deborah Todd
A good mentor can make all the difference, but many college students dont have access to one, let alone one in their field. MentorNet connects students pursuing STEM or health science degrees with professionals in careers they aspire to for online one-to-one mentoring.
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Great Minds in STEM
LEARN MORE AT
mentornet.org
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