More and more qualified, intelligent women are opting out of
working in STEM, according to C
atalyst’s
latest research. These women are taking their talents elsewhere and we need
to start asking why.
The global study of MBA graduates found that just 18 percent
of women opted for a business role in a technology-intensive industry, compared
to 24 percent of men. Additionally, over half of women (53 percent) who started
out in a business role in a tech industry left to take a position in another
industry, compared to just 31 percent of men.
Even though they have the exact same level of education as
their male colleagues, women are more likely to start in entry-level positions
and are therefore paid less, according to the study. And, a problem in
tech-intensive industries is that women remain in the minority throughout the
pipeline, which can lead to feelings of alienation. With fewer female role
models than other industries and fewer senior women to serve as sponsors, the
feeling of being an outside affects access to development opportunities and ultimately
career aspirations.
In addition, from the “brogrammer” culture in high-tech
firms to the “Old Boys’ Club” in oil and gas, automotive and manufacturing,
women are faced with a culture of exclusivity that can be difficult to break in
to. Catalyst asked for advice from women working in the field: One said she
tells young women to use a black coffee mug because it doesn’t show lipstick
marks, and another, said she tells young
women not to bring notebooks to meetings because people will assume they’re
secretaries.
So, these talented women look at these industries, realize
they’ll be the only woman in the room and turn elsewhere. To make STEM more
attractive to women, organizations need to ensure that companies are sponsoring
promising women, making performance criteria transparent and concrete, while
promoting flexible work options.
