Females in STEM - We need more! | Monica Pham | TEDxYouth@TBSWarsaw

Summary

The speaker reflects on their experience with sexism, initially unaware of it growing up but later recognizing it in academic and professional settings, especially in engineering. They share their journey as a nuclear engineering student at MIT, noting disparities between male and female peers, and the challenge of fitting into the 'boys' club' in the field. Despite the support they've received, the speaker emphasizes the need to acknowledge and address sexism, offering encouragement to women to stay authentic and push for positive change in the workplace.

Takeaways

• 😊 Children often don't recognize sexism because they view differences among people differently.
• 🎓 The speaker believed in the idea of working hard to achieve goals, thanks to a supportive upbringing and good academic resources.
• 👩‍🔬 The speaker only realized sexism later, especially when studying nuclear engineering at university, where reactions to her career choice differed based on gender.
• 🧑‍🎓 Despite skepticism from some, the speaker is now in her third year at MIT, pursuing nuclear engineering, and feels supported by her peers and faculty.
• 👥 MIT's student body is nearly gender-equal, but in many professional settings outside MIT, women in engineering are still a minority.
• 📉 Women represent only 20% of engineering graduates and just 13% of the engineering workforce, indicating a gender disparity in the field.
• 🚺 Women often face everyday sexism and negative team dynamics, which contributes to them leaving engineering professions.
• 🙅‍♀️ Many women feel pressured to fit into the 'boys club' culture in engineering workplaces, sometimes compromising their identity to fit in.
• 🗣 The speaker encourages women to embrace their true selves and believes that supportive peers, like her, are ready to fight alongside them against sexism.
• 🔄 The speaker hopes for a future where women are so well-represented in technical spaces that counting their presence becomes unnecessary.

Q & A

What did the speaker notice about sexism while growing up?

The speaker did not notice sexism while growing up and believed that hard work would lead to success, regardless of gender.

How did the speaker's perception of sexism change as they grew older?

As the speaker grew older, they started to notice sexism, particularly when they expressed interest in studying nuclear engineering. Some people were skeptical, especially in comparison to the support shown to their male peers.

What mixed responses did the speaker receive when they shared their intention to study nuclear engineering?

While many people were supportive of the speaker’s decision to study nuclear engineering, some were skeptical and brushed off the speaker's ambition, in contrast to the praise male peers received for similar goals.

What does the speaker highlight about the gender ratio at MIT in their field?

The speaker notes that the gender ratio at MIT is fairly balanced, with about 55% men and 45% women, and they have received great support from classmates and faculty.

What observation does the speaker make when attending conferences or meetings outside of MIT?

The speaker observes that in many conferences or meetings outside of MIT, they are often one of the few women in the room, and the number of women present can frequently be counted on one hand.

What statistic does the speaker share regarding women in engineering?

The speaker shares that only 20% of engineering degrees are awarded to women, and only 13% of the engineering workforce is made up of women.

Why do many women leave engineering despite earning engineering degrees, according to the speaker?

The speaker refers to sociologist Susan Selby, who suggests that women leave engineering due to negative work and team dynamics, often influenced by everyday sexism.

How do women in engineering sometimes cope with sexism in the workplace?

Women in engineering often try to fit into the ‘boys’ club’ by ignoring sexism, taking jokes, and attempting to blend in to feel supported, even when this behavior might be harmful.

What does the speaker believe should be the response to sexism in engineering?

The speaker believes that rather than ignoring sexism, it should be acknowledged and addressed, as it has a negative impact on workplace environments.

What is the speaker’s hope for the future in terms of gender representation in engineering?

The speaker hopes that one day, when attending meetings or conferences, they will see so many women present that they will lose count, no longer feeling the need to make a game out of counting the number of women in the room.