Women are certainly not a rare sight on college campuses, especially at Ball State, where women make up nearly 60 percent of undergrads. But when it comes to pursuing degrees in STEM – science, technology, engineering and math – fields, classrooms across the country are filled with a disproportionally low amount of women.
While women represent half of all college graduates with bachelor’s degrees in science and engineering, they only make up about 28 percent of employees in science and engineering fields, according to the recently released National Science Board’s “Science and Engineering Indicators” report. Women only earn 20 percent of bachelor’s degrees in engineering and computer science, according to a study by the American Association of University Women.
The amount of degrees in computer sciences, mathematics, physics, engineering and economics awarded to women have also been in decline. But that doesn’t stop some from trying to break into these male dominated careers anyway.
Meghan Duffy, a freshman computer science major, says that being in the minority doesn’t intimidate her, but inspires her.
“Honestly I think I might have a bigger advantage because of positive sexism. I think in the end, because there’s so few women in the field, it may end up benefiting me. I don’t totally like that that exists, but I like that it benefits me,” she says.
To read other reactions of women studying in STEM, click over to BallBearingsMag.com or download the free Ball Bearings app on both iTunes and Google Play.
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