Where Are We at? Gender Disparities in STEM
Language: English and Spanish
Although in recent years there have been promising results, women are still under-represented in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) disciplines, at all levels and worldwide. In this sense, one has to take into account that gender equality is not only about fairness. Other aspects matter, too, such as obstacles that move away brilliant female students from such disciplines and relevant career positions. This session is aimed at developing an understanding of various aspects that affect gendered educational paths (both in schools and universities) and career choices in the direction of STEM. Research in this field is growing and is carried out in different fields such as sociology, educational science and STEM in itself. For these reasons, this session welcomes papers relating to such a variety, from theory to empirical research, in order to exchange information about different approaches, methods and results.
The session intends to answer questions such as:
• In the education system, what factors influence the choices of students and young researchers for advanced courses and specialisations?
• What role do the environment and people, such as parents, peers and professors, play in these decisions?
The session encourages, in particular, studies from researchers who identify as females and from minority groups.