Microscopes and Misogyny: Let's Have a Chat About Women's Experiences in STEM

By Hailey Crawford

Working in the science field is hard, but being a woman in the science field is even harder. Higher education may prepare us for the concepts we need to understand in the lab, or how to convert nano liters to liters, however it fails to conduct the discussion of mistreatment and misunderstanding towards women in scientific settings. It wasn’t until I decided to head to a classroom one afternoon during the first week of 7th grade that I understood how prominent of an issue this was. It was the first meeting of our school’s robotics team, more of an interest meeting than anything else. Immediately, I was intrigued. I’ve always enjoyed engaging in new challenges, and I soon discovered this would be much more of an obstacle than the coding and mechanics I’d have to adapt to. It was just me, a couple other girls, and a whole lot of men. I wasn’t able to screw parts together without being told “I can help with that!”, or “Why don’t you go and work on our poster design before the competition?” from one of the guys in the club. This was the start of being involved in all sorts of STEM related activities, where my skills and knowledge were repeatedly underestimated by men throughout the years. I wondered when it would all stop, how long it would take for me to be able to prove myself as ‘smart enough’ or when colleagues would see me as worthy and competent enough to handle difficult tasks. Finding out that I would be seen as ‘sassy and prude’ when standing up for myself or correcting a colleague, or incompetent and idiotic if I dare to make one mere mistake was difficult to grasp. I knew calculus and geometry would be hard, but I didn’t know how difficult it would be to combat mistreatment simply for my gender. 

It took quite a long time to come to the conclusion that this would likely never end, that I would almost always be seen as someone who only participated in these activities to seem smart to universities for college applications. My findings and conclusions were questioned repeatedly, despite later finding out that I was, in fact, correct. The everyday challenges were draining and exhausting, being called ‘stupid’ and told that I don’t know what I’m talking about on a regular basis was not easy for me.

In 9th grade, I signed up for a robotics class, as well as a digital technology class. In both classes, I was the only girl. It felt odd, and slightly uncomfortable. It made me question, were girls discouraged from enrolling in these classes? It was clear that this was likely the case. The men in these classes made all sorts of disgusting jokes regarding women, and I began to feel unsafe in these spaces. It was disgusting to see that this is what a future work environment could look like, trying to focus on coding while being subject to listen to colleagues make disgusting, misogynistic comments. I am now getting my bachelors’ degree in Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, and have a job working in agriculture. At work and in classes, I feel as though I am walking on eggshells knowing how us women are seen in STEM careers. It’s an everyday challenge knowing that I will never be seen as someone who works hard and puts my best foot forward when completing tasks and experiments.

It is not fair for the future women in science to be forced to put up with the challenges of misogyny, especially without the conversation of how the STEM field has always been a male dominated field where women are underestimated by colleagues on a regular basis. Growing up and reading articles surrounding this issue, I have read stories about women who have been discriminated against while completing research for their Ph.D, or not being able to move up to higher positions in their companies while watching male colleagues get promoted with little to no effort.  

Let’s highlight the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields, and how important it is to identify and discuss the differences in pay and representation. The percentage of men working in STEM is significantly higher than women, and the pay gap is still very much a prominent issue. According to an article by Christianne Corbett, women in science only occupy 7%-53% of varying STEM careers, and only earn 80%-94% of what men in their fields make. It is one of the most uncomfortable feelings when you are in a space where your identity is but a small percentage of your workplace or classroom. Women can feel uncomfortable in these jobs for a number of reasons, from gender bias to harassment. According to a recent survey conducted by ITIC, the International Technology Intelligence Corporation, 49% of the women who participated reported experiencing harassment in their workplace, and 61% reported experiencing gender bias. It is absolutely unacceptable and appalling that so many women experience harassment and gender bias at work. No one should be put at risk to experience mistreatment and misogyny simply for being at work, following their dreams, and doing what they love. It is unsafe and unfair that women are put at-risk to these conditions in STEM jobs, and this conversation needs to be conducted and discussed more often than it is in schools and universities. 

I hope to see a change in the future regarding womens’ poor and unsafe experiences in STEM-related careers. I want to see the harassment and gender bias statistics drop, I want women to feel safe at work. It is appalling how a field that has brought so many advances into this world discriminates against those who have been responsible for such incredible findings. Women in science have been some of the most notable figures in STEM history, yet we are still underestimated and face misogyny to this day. What a shame.