According to UNESCO statistics, young women seem to lose interest in STEM as they get older. Where are the women scientists, engineers and computer scientists?
Think of a scientist. Perhaps most of us would name Marie Curie. Not surprisingly, since the Polish woman won her first Nobel Prize in 1903, only 24 women have won this award in physics, chemistry or medicine. This is a reflection of female invisibility in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) field, a situation known as the Matilda Effect.
"The Matilda Effect is understood as the work that women have done throughout history that has never reached posterity. Although their contribution has been noted, their names have gone completely unnoticed. This is especially noticeable in science," explains Maite Paramaio, president of the Association of Women Researchers and Technologists, AMIT. This takes its name from suffragist Matilda Joslyn Gage (1826-1898), who used her column in The National Citizen newspaper to publicize the work of important forgotten women. However, it was not until a century later, when in 1993 historian Margaret W. Rossiter named this situation after her. Today, the association led by Paramaio is promoting the #NoMoreMaltidas initiative to reclaim the names of many other neglected Matildas in their field.
For Maite, in addition to the injustice of silencing the contributions of these people, this results in girls having no role models: "There is a universal law that says you don't like, what you don't know. If you have no knowledge of these professions, because there are no references, how are we going to make them be studied," says the AMIT president.
So where are the women scientists, engineers and computer scientists? According to the PISA 2018 report, in Spain two out of ten girls with good performance in Science and Mathematics expect to work in those areas when they turn 30. However, according to UNESCO statistics, young women seem to lose interest in these subjects as they get older. At the university level, equality is increasing, although there is still a long way to go. While in science careers female students represent 49% of enrollments, in engineering, industry and construction it is reduced to 30%, and in computer science it only reaches 15%. At the professional level, on the other hand, women researchers in Spain represent 41% of the total, above the European average (34%, according to the report 'Scientists in figures 2021').
Maite Paramaio recognizes that the key lies in "insisting, insisting and insisting. For this reason, we have programs such as Una ingeniera en cada cole, (An engineer in each school), in which female engineers and scientists go to schools to talk about their professional experience; or through meetings with publishers, and included in the #NoMoreMatildas movement, to encourage textbooks to include more relevant women, not just Marie Curie." Also, in the different territorial nodes, through patronage, mentoring, congresses or awards, where the leading role of women is supported and made visible from high school, university or during doctoral studies, a moment that Paramaio defines as "crucial, since many women start it but few finish it, feeling lost."
Joana Frontela, director of Cepsa's Center for Research, R&D Project Management and Researchers, agrees on this point, insisting that it is essential to "teach from school. If they grow up in a context where they see more realities of women scientists, engineers or technicians, they will be able to choose equally among all disciplines. Education is undoubtedly the best driver. ...Study books should include great male... and female figures."
Frontela acknowledges that, following AMIT's line, the center she directs is "involved in several actions sponsored by Cepsa and Fundación Cepsa to promote the incorporation of girls to STEM studies with accompaniment in schools; mentoring women with potential; or the Inspiring Girls Foundation, which promotes female references in any field, among other projects." She adds: "We feel strongly about gender inclusion in technical careers and professions."
Looking back, we have fortunately come a long way in leaps and bounds, but there is still work to be done. According to UN data, we will reach real equality in about 200 years at the current rate. In conclusion, Maite Paramaio points out that "it only depends on us, on our insistence and resistance. It is in our hands and in the external support we may have."