On a day-to-day basis, the question of appropriation and appreciation is often being misunderstood. It’s important to know the key difference between the two, since cultures, especially the minor ones, are being taken advantage of under our noses. Knowing the distinctions can support the spread of awareness to those with less knowledge, and improve society in the long run.

WHO ARE SOME SIGNIFICANT EXAMPLES?

Rosalind Franklin

A British scientist born in July 1920 - April 1958 (Biography, Facts, & DNA, 2024) named Rosalind Franklin was one of the few who paved a new path for the future of women in STEM. Rosalind was a student studying physical chemistry at Newnham College, University of Cambridge, and had served as a London air raid warden in the British Coal Utilisation Research Association during WWII. As an air raid warden, Rosalind’s job required her to protect citizens from air raids, which happened when hostile planes dropped bombs. Not only has she contributed to job fields as risky as an air raid warden, but Rosalind has also contributed to the development of structural virology, and discovering the structure of the molecular structure of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Her discovery advanced many scientific studies such as the understanding of genetic information. However, Rosalind’s work was uncredited when researchers James Watson and Francis Crick discovered the double-helix form and were awarded a Nobel Prize in 1962 (Britannica, 2023). Rosalind Franklin's contributions should teach the next generation how significant she is.

Katherine Johnson 

Katherine Johnson is an American Mathematician who worked on the calculations of space missions, an essential task for spaceflight. Katherine was one of the first African-American women scientists who paved the way for the future of other pursuing STEM POC individuals (Biography, Education, Accomplishments, & Facts, 2024). Some of her work includes Alan Shepard’s Freedom 7 mission in 1961, John Glenn’s Friendship 7 mission in 1962, and the Apollo 11 mission to the moon in 1969. Because of her several achievements, Katherine was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 by President Obama, continuing to symbolize hope for the STEM world.

STRUGGLES WOMEN FACE IN STEM

Gender Bias

Gender bias can be seen in various workplaces, whether it be for white-collared, or blue-collared workers. Talented women are often stereotyped, which encourages a toxic mentality that undermines their confidence and, therefore damages their mathematical and technical capabilities (Carlton, 2023).

 Men make up 4 out of 5 of the higher-paying majors, predominantly in STEM majors (Carlton, 2023). According to a survey conducted in the U.S. from July 11th- August 10th, 2017 called “Women and Men in STEM Often at Odds Over Workplace Equality”, half of the women in the field of STEM experience gender discrimination. Some examples include: Being paid less than a man executing the same job, being subjected to small, yet continuous incivility at work, being treated as incompetent, and getting less support from senior employees than a man performing the same job (Funk & Parker, 2018).

Sexual Harassment

In comparison to non-STEM majors and STEM majors, women in the field of STEM encounter three times more sexual assaults than the average. The violence comes in the form of attempted and sexual coercion, attempted rape and rape. (Reidy, n.d. 2024). Cases like these have started to halt the careers of women in STEM, with unconscious bias, sexual harassment and countless moments of gender discrimination continuing to brew under the surface (Parks, 2024)

INITIATIVES BEING MADE

Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC)

The Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission contributes to the development of women in STEM programs, making them more available and equal to women. The CNSC’s main projects are to spread awareness across the STEM world, as well as letting the voices of women be heard within discussions involving Nuclear safety and security. (Women in STEM, n.d). President Rumina Velshi, the president of CNSC, launched a STEM initiative in 2019, an initiative to help aid women in STEM careers globally, both collaborating and raising awareness as a partner to the government, industry and academia. “It rests on us – as leaders, as decision-makers, as influencers – to do everything in our power to encourage women to pursue a path in nuclear. By taking a stand on gender equity and diversity within regulatory organizations, I’m hopeful our call to action will trickle down to the nuclear industry. As regulators, we have the ability to influence our licensees to make gender equity and diversity an overall priority,”, President Velshi remarks. (Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, 2021)

Canadian Women in Chemistry (CWIC) Network

The CWIC is a cutting-edge organization that links Women in Chemistry (WIC) groups across Canada intending to advance inclusivity, equity, and diversity in the chemical sciences. Within the CWIC Network, there are now three graduate student-governed initiatives in operation: The Women in Chemistry Initiative,

University of Toronto (WICTO), The University of Alberta Women in Chemistry (UAlberta WIC), Women in Chemistry, and the University of Saskatchewan (WIC-USask) (Organizations for Women in STEM | Department of Chemical & Physical Sciences, n.d)They serve to educate the many through resourceful links, Host presentations about their work and projects, accredit university programs and certify chemical technologists, and help younger students appreciate the value of chemistry-related fields. (CWIC - Canadians Working for Inclusivity in Chemical Sciences, Engineering and Technology Network, n.d)

TO CONCLUDE

Women in STEM is a positive saying that encourages women who are interested in the technologies and sciences. Many decide not to“stay”. With recurring issues such as sexual harassment, gender bias, and an antagonistic view from their competitive male colleagues, it’s not surprising many fall from their passion. However, as an ongoing society that is learning and growing from past mistakes, the possibility of more women in the STEM program is seen more likely in the present time. Let’s help support the ladies, and show our science cheer!