Women In STEM Careers And The Gender Gap [INFOGRAPHIC]

by Brittany Schlacter on February 13, 2013

It should come as no surprise that just 25 percent of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce are women. These are some of world’s most important jobs, and somehow women only make up a quarter of the workforce.

When it comes to scientific career paths, women are often faced with many challenges and obstacles. Not only are they greatly outnumbered in STEM positions, but also they’re paid significantly less. For example, in the biological sciences field, the average woman’s salary equates to just 76 percent of the average man’s salary. These are two things greatly working against the necessity of attracting women to careers in the STEM sector.

The bias against women in STEM careers also spans to the hiring of men over women for the same position. A 2012 Yale study of 127 faculty members rated male and female job applicants with identical qualifications. This study found that regardless of field of gender, the professors suggested a lower starting salary for the female job applicants.

CityTownInfo.com has created an infographic to best display the findings in regard to women in STEM careers. While there certainly are many challenges faced by these women, there are a variety of opportunities for the future of women in science.

For some inspiration from women in science-related careers, here are some great quotes from the top 10 women in biotech.

What’s your take on the future of women in STEM careers?

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Tagged as: STEM, stem careers, women, workforce

Article by Brittany Schlacter

Brittany Schlacter graduated from Ball State University with a B.S. in public relations and a minor in fashion. Before joining Come Recommended as a content creator trainee, she gained valuable experiences in public relations, community management, blogging, integrated marketing, and business operations.

  • http://www.facebook.com/ruthmarie.hicks Ruthmarie Garcia Hicks

    As a scientist who saw no future beyond grinding poverty and no chance of retirement, we need to STEP BACK from our “STEM obsession” and ask why people sounding the alarm bells about a science/engineering/tech “shortage”. If there is such a shortage why are salaries so unbelievably lousy? Seriously, the people sweeping the floors made more money than I did. Why is the post-doctoral log-jam 10 years long? Why are so many American scientists unemployed? And PLEASE don’t whine about the skills mismatch. If there was such a real “shortage” industry and academics would willing train those who have minor deficiencies on-the-job. The answer is that there IS NO SHORTAGE..in fact there is an enormous GLUT. You people have been yammering about a “shortage” for 20 years – and it has never appeared – nor did the opportunities that my generation was promised if they would only work hard and get their doctorates.

    So let’s stop the nonsense – not only is it ridiculous, but it has the capacity to ruin the lives of many young people who enter an 8 year Ph.D. pipeline because they hear the siren song I heard in the 90s. These are real people and there are real consequences for suggesting someone wast more than a decade of their lives in post-graduate education.

  • Emilie

    I just want to say thanks for your courage in posting this. I agree with you. But I believe STEM initiatives shouldn’t be halted altogether. This needs to be tackled on both ends: elementary school and reworking the job options/”pipeline”. The major major problems with the latter need to be more transparent.

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