Bias in AI and IRL: Why We Must Continue Advocating for Women and Girls in STEM
Jay Flores
?? Host of “It’s Not Magic, It’s Science!” ???? 2x American Ninja Warrior semifinalist ?? Contestant on “Are You Smarter Than a Celebrity?”
Science and technology shape our world, but who gets to be seen as a scientist? Who gets to imagine themselves in that role?
Recently, I ran a simple experiment. I asked an AI image generator to “Draw a scientist.” The results were eye-opening:
?? 30 prompts before a woman appeared… in the background.
?? 36 prompts before a woman was included in a group of male scientists.
?? 71 prompts before a woman was depicted alone.
?? 74 prompts before a single person of color was shown—two Black women.
These results mirror a well-known psychology study called the Draw-A-Scientist Test, where children overwhelmingly sketched white men in lab coats, reflecting societal stereotypes rather than reality.
If AI, trained on our collective knowledge, struggles to recognize diversity in science, it’s because our world still struggles to represent it.
Why This Matters
When young girls don’t see themselves represented in STEM, they are less likely to envision themselves in these careers. Studies show that girls internalize stereotypes about intelligence and abilities from an early age, which can limit their ambitions and choices. AI, like our culture, is only as good as the data it learns from. If we want technology to reflect a diverse world, we must actively build a more inclusive one.
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STEM Needs Women. The World Needs Their Ideas
Every time we allow stereotypes to persist, we risk losing brilliant minds who could change the world. What if the cure for cancer is trapped in the mind of a girl who’s told STEM is for boys?
We can change this narrative by:
? Amplifying the voices of women in science and technology.
? Encouraging young girls to explore STEM fields.
? Creating inclusive environments in classrooms, labs, and boardrooms.
? Challenging biased representations in media, education, and AI itself.
On This International Day of Women and Girls in Science…
Let’s commit to action. Representation is not just about fairness. It’s about progress! Science needs every brilliant mind, every unique perspective, and every innovative thinker, no matter their gender or background.
The future of science is diverse. It’s time AI, and the world, reflect that truth.
?? Join the conversation: What are some ways we can better support and encourage women in STEM?
Digital Marketing Strategist | Partnership Architect | Responsible AI Champion
3 周Thanks for shining a light on this. I ran into this dilemma when I was creating a custom GPT to help girls explore engineering fields. The imagery was mostly male dominated. I had to specifically instruct the GPT to show diverse engineers. We have wins to celebrate...but still have work to do. I am all in to take action to change the narrative.
I agree, Jay Flores!