International Women’s Day and STEM Careers

International Women's Day (IWD) is a global holiday celebrated annually on the 8th of March as a focal point in the women's rights movement. On this special day, we celebrate the contributions and achievements of women around the world.

It is important to encourage young women into industries, such as science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), as they are currently underrepresented in these traditionally male-dominated fields.

There are so many opportunities now for women to get into STEM careers.

International Women’s Day and STEM Careers

The importance of STEM

STEM fields place great emphasis on innovation, problem-solving skills, digital technology, and interpersonal skills among others.

New technologies are emerging and evolving, bringing both opportunities and challenges to our everyday lives. Women have always played a crucial role within STEM industries.

Here are some key points highlighting the significance of women's participation in STEM fields:

Enhanced Creativity - Diverse teams bring a wide range of perspectives and ideas, leading to more innovations.
Research and Development - Women's experiences and viewpoints contribute to comprehensive research and development.
Inclusivity in the Workforce - Increasing the number of women in STEM careers helps achieve inclusivity in the workplace, empowering women to reach their full potential.
Better Health and Well-Being - Women in STEM, particularly in fields like healthcare can more accurately address women's health issues.

Improving STEM Education

The presence of women in STEM roles can result in education be more inclusive, encouraging more young women to engage with STEM subjects.

InnovateHer are a social enterprise who aim to get more girls interested in the technology industry. They work with schools to encourages more girls to feel that the tech industry is actually a place for them, despite the gender stereotypes we face within society. Their main aim is to increase the number of girls within schools choosing a tech related GCSE. They also aim to support girls in achieving Gatsby Benchmarks.

InnovateHer can offer schools:

Virtual inspiring assemblies (Generic tech industry, Sports Tech and/or Cyber Security) which last 20-30 minutes each.
Virtual role model talks from their growing bank of ambassadors.
Online live events,
Their online learning platform, which houses courses for students on Cyber Security, Sports Tech and much more. Their growing list can be found here.

All of their activities are completely free. You can see their impact reports and statistics of their impact here.

Inspiration to Young Women

Positive female role models in STEM can inspire and motivate young girls to pursue these fields, fostering the next generation of scientists, engineers, or technologists.

Overall, International Women's Day provides an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the contributions and accomplishments of women in diverse industries.

Despite the clear benefits, women in STEM sectors often face significant challenges, including lack of representation and work-life balance issues. It is essential that women have equal opportunities to contribute to and benefit from STEM fields.

You can find out more about International Women's day HERE.

And you can find further information on how apprenticeships and T Levels support women in STEM careers HERE

More on this subject

Read more about this subject in Neil Brown's article: 'Addressing the Gender Imbalance in STEM'

Go to article

Article by

Zuzana Puente

English as an additional language Teaching Assistant
The Inclusive Learning and Achievement Service (ILAS)
zuzana.puente@northtyneside.gov.uk