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Pledge for Parity in STEM Fields for This Year’s International Women’s Day

This year’s theme for International Women’s Day – held every year on March 8th – is “Pledge for Parity.” It is time for each one of us to take a moment to make a pledge to take real, tangible steps toward creating an egalitarian society. There are many challenges that women still face in today’s modern world that men do not – especially in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

Women face a shortage of female mentors, a lack of acceptance from co-workers and supervisors, encounter differences in communication styles, misidentification (being mistaken for administrative staff), questioning of qualifications or expertise, biases against women with children or women perceived to be likely to have children in the near future, and isolation.

Yet, there are certainly women that have changed the course of science and it is a shame that more women aren’t encouraged to join a STEM field. Some women that have made important contributions to science fields are familiar names like Marie Curie and Ada Lovelace, but there are other women that might be surprising. Hedy Lamarr, a film star from the 1930’s, was also a brilliant inventor that paved the way for today’s Wi-Fi and Bluetooth technology.

We must work harder to get more girls and women involved in STEM. How?

Little steps will eventually make a big impact ….

Two little Steps

  • Try recommending these websites of multiple professional organizations to girls and young women you know such as  Society of Women Engineers, Women in Technology International, Association for Women in Mathematics and Association of Women in Science. These resources present a wonderful opportunity to learn a great deal about the field, about what it’s like to be a woman in a specific STEM profession, about career opportunities such as to name just a few.
  • Know someone or maybe you are a women currently working in STEM then…. why don’t you become a role model for Wise (a campaign to promote Women In Science, technology and engineering).   Being a  visible role model not only will boast your personal profile but it could help thousands of other young women climbing up the ladder.

Remember: Real Girl Power is about helping each other up the ladder.

 

feeet

Limitless

Every year my family and I go away on holiday for Christmas and New Years. It is probably one of the only sacred times in the year where we have time to eat, pray, discuss and debate with one another. I normally like to take this opportunity to take my mother on a crazy adrenaline junkie adventure, which the country we are visiting has to offer.

This year, I went parasailing on the 1st January 500ft above sea level. It was such a great experience but it was the experience before the  experience  that happened that I want  to focus on..

Just before I was about to head towards the parasailing boat, another holiday maker came said to me  “ I hope your not going  on that parasail”, I said  “I am, why do you ask?” She said “because its unsafe?”.  I asked  “what does unsafe mean? What’s unsafe about it?  She replies, I just heard from someone else that those things aren’t safe.”  I replied “So you heard its unsafe from someone who hasn’t experienced it who heard it was unsafe from someone else?”

Realising how silly this sounded “ She quickly said  “Well at your own risk, Good luck” before walking  off.  I then called out to her “ Excuse me … random question…Have you ever wanted to try  this….”  she laughed then said  “Yeah …. it does look fun but I like to remain safe”

There is so much learning that you can take from this one story. I am  only  going to highlight three which really stood out:

  • Fear

It’s funny how other people’s fear can affect you from achieving your own dreams. Had I not questioned the information she provided about how “unsafe” parasailing was.  I may have allowed False Evidence Appearing Real to cripple me. Have you allowed others peoples fear to cripple you from doing something you have always  wanted to do.  Moreover, have you allowed yourself to remain “ safe” because your scared to take the risk?

 

  • Misinformation

Taking advice from someone who hasn’t walked the walk can be extremely dangerous at times. See I understood and was very grateful for the concern but it wasn’t warranted as she didn’t have first hand or even second had experience of it. When your sick, you go to doctor to find out what’s wrong with you right? You wouldn’t go to farmer or carpenter for a diagnoses of your illness.  When you get advice find out how they know what they know.

 

  • Limiting Beliefs

It’s interesting how our beliefs can effect the way we feel about yourself and what we  do or what we don’t do. What limits have your placed on yourself , what have you told yourself that you can’t  do? What excuses have you made and are still currently making? Are you able to adjust your belief system if they don’t serve you in your quest to happiness and/ or achieving your goals and dreams? You belief system is the central part of the moves you make in your life.  Its time to check what you believe.