Science and technology has always been ruled by men. How many women scientists do you know of? Marie Curie, and? Umm, well...no I don't know. Well, if you don't know, then YOU are the one to be blamed because many girls grew up to be "women in science and technology". We don't know about them because of the gender bias. As simple as that.
This article is about those women who are less known but not less intelligent and about why there are fewer girls in science.
Wikipedia says of something called a "leaky pipe problem". That means the ratio between girls interested in science/maths in early years to the women who finally take up sci-tech as a career is too large. Why is it so? I think that women, even now have to face the stupid myth that "maths is not for girls" or "a PhD in astrophysics would not help get a husband". Also, studying science or engineering does not always mean that the person loves the subject enough to pursue it as a career. I know many girls who came to study engineering without any idea of why they are studying it. They didn't have any passion for the subject whatsoever. Finally, there are those women who, after spending years studying engineering decide to become home makers or leave careers in technology to become stay at home moms. Guys never become house-husbands or stay at home dads sacrificing their careers for the family.
As far as women in science are concerened, yes, there are fewer women than men, but for a gender who were not allowed inside science institutes, leave alone attending lectures, how do we expect that they would have equal share in success? When Mme. Curie was in Poland, she was not allowed to pursue a career in science, so she had to come to France. She was not nominated for the Nobel Prize at first only because she was a woman and so, not worth nominating. It was only after Pierre Curie insisted that he would not take the prize unless his wife is nominated as well, that Marie got her fair chance. At seminars, they were referred as Professor Curie and Madame Curie even when Marie was a professor too herself!
What about the other distinguished ladies in science? Do you know of Ada Byron? She was the first computer programmer and worked with Charles Babbage? Know of Barbara Jane Liskov either? She is the recipient of the prestigious Turing award (equivalent to a Nobel prize in computer science) in 2008. In between them, there are many others, whom we don't know about, whom we just expect to spend their lives in connection with Kinder, Küche, Kirche (the 3 K’s, is a German slogan translated as “children, kitchen, church”) but who have pursued truth for the advancement of humankind.
Take a look at this link for more details on women in sci-tech. For the leading women who are heads of states, CEOs, secretary of homeland security or leaders in tech companies like Google or Facebook, take a peek at Forbes power-women.
On a personal note, soon after I had my traditional wedding in India, many people asked my husband if he's going to take me along to the US. That means they already assumed that as a wife I was in a "dependent mode". I had to butt in and clearly mention that I am not tagging along with him and have my own independent life to lead in the US or wherever in the world I wish to. That I don't feel like changing my lastname after marriage is still a shock to many!
Girls, pull up your stockings. We have covered a long distance in a very short span of a few decades and we have a good chance of showing our mettle. Keep it up!
[Acknowledgements to many people in my life, especially my Dad, who made me solve maths problems like nothing, my Mom who's a PhD in International Relations and is a University professor and my female role model, my sis first prize winner at IIT in her Masters program in Architecture and my hubby in whom I can see the result of being brought up by a smart and wise Mom.]
1 comment:
Another thought-provoking article Sayari. Keep it up. More power to us.
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