There is no doubt that we equate science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, also known as STEM, with prestigious careers. Nevertheless, in South Korea, only 2 out of 10 STEM graduates are female. This comes as a surprise as girls have outperformed boys in university enrollments every year and excelled equally. Then, what caused this evident gender gap in STEM? Is it the biological differences between men and women? Is it a structurally driven cause?

The gap derives from evident gender bias in STEM. The barriers for female students and workers limit their capacities, perpetuating the notorious gender gap. In school, girls go through stereotypical socialization processes that hinder their interest in STEM. It’s easy to witness girls being praised for their literary and empathy skills while boys are highlighted for logical problem-solving abilities. This stereotype is reflected in schools like KAIST where females make up merely 20% of their student body.

In addition, even if girls pursue STEM degrees and careers, they continue to face obstacles in maintaining their profession. According to WISET, only 10% of managerial positions in STEM are held by women. Female scientists and engineers compete not only against their male peers but the thick glass ceiling.

Then what can be done? First and foremost, our education systems need to change. In schools, STEM curriculums must include gender-neutral pronouns and support extracurricular activities to foster equal participation. On a more macro-level, workplaces must ensure women-friendly environments and involve more female recruiters when hiring STEM faculty.

On the surface, education may no longer seem like an uneven playing field. However, the gender biases that we worked hard to eradicate, still linger in our daily lives.

신시은 강남포스트 학생기자  webmaster@ignnews.kr

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