Breaking the Bias!

I remember an incident from my schooldays that perfectly reflects the gender bias that exists even today, some 50 years later, when it comes to women and the workplace. At that time, I was in class eight at St Xavier’s school in Bokaro. Our principal, Rev. Fr John Moore SJ, a noted Australian educationist, would often be visited by his former students from his earlier school, St Xavier’s Hazaribagh. Fr Moore would ask these ex-students to address us. The incident I write of here involves one such former pupil.

This gentleman, who was from the Delhi School of Economics, started his talk by asking us what we wanted to become in life. When it was my turn, I said what was then closest to my heart: “A biochemist.” In response, the visitor sneered. “Are you sure?” he asked. “Not a kitchen chemist?”

It was a small incident, but I still remember his slightly superior look and smile. It was my first brush with gender stereotyping.

Status of Indian Women in STEM

As we all talk about Breaking the Bias, its easier said than done. The pre-existing gender bias I spoke about is rampant to this day. And it’s hardly surprising that it also plagues the fields in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

As per the World Bank, India has the highest number of women STEM graduates in the world – about 43%. According to a recent survey, 57% of Indian female students are interested in pursuing a career in STEM . However, the number of women in STEM jobs is disappointing – a mere 14%. So what is it that prevents women from pursuing a career in STEM?

Challenges for Indian Women in STEM

I mentioned gender bias and stereotyping as likely causes, but I believe this is only one of the major contributing factors. There are other reasons that have been cited by the government agency NITI Aayog. In a survey report on the status of Indian women in science, released a few years ago, NITI Aayog identified family commitments and change of city of domicile as the primary causes of post-marriage breaks in a career among women.

Major reasons why there aren’t many Indian women professionals in STEM fields

• Birth of their first child
• Marriage
• Taking care of family members
• Change in job location
• Time commitments
• Objections raised by family

To be noted, 52% of the women polled hold either an M. Phil or a Master’s degree.

Policy drivers to promote Indian women in STEM

On the upside, the Indian government is taking steps to promote inclination towards the sciences among female students and women.

Its New Education Policy 2020, for instance, integrates Humanities and Arts subjects, popular with girl students, with STEM, to drive critical thinking among them. Similarly, the Ministry of Women and Child Welfare and Development is stepping up efforts to encourage girl students to take up STEM in higher education.

It has also announced chairs for women in prominent educational institutions and launched schemes like Knowledge Involvement Research Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN) that provide new opportunities for women scientists and technologists.

The 'Indo-US Fellowship for Women in STEMM' (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine) also provides a platform to Indian women scientists, engineers, and technologists for international research collaborations. On our part, STEMforce, Salesforce’s free mentorship program for underprivileged children (16 years and above), arms young minds with the knowledge and skills to advance in their chosen career paths.

Similarly, public and private organisations can help promote more female students and professionals in STEM fields by taking initiatives, such as skilling programmes, partnerships with educational institutes and NGOs. I believe such concerted and continuous efforts can provide women with the much-needed impetus to overcome challenges and excel in high-demand fields such as STEM.