Welcome to Breaking Down Patriarchy. I'm Amy McPhee, All the Best. In recent centuries, our world has

deepened its relationship with the sciences and technology. We celebrate life-saving medical advances.

We continue to develop faster and faster methods of computing. And many of us were recently

staring at our screens in awe,

admiring the stunning images from the James Webb telescope. We depend upon science,

technology, engineering, and math, or STEM fields to bring ease and entertainment and wonder

to our lives. So it's no surprise that many of the fastest growing and highest paying careers are within

these fields of study.

And yet, if we apply a lens of gender to STEM fields, what we find is that only 28% of the

STEM workforce is made up of women.

Why is this?

Well, studies have shown a number of factors discouraging girls and women from exploring STEM fields, including pervasive gender stereotypes

about quote-unquote male and female jobs, an absence of role models, inaccurate beliefs

that women are inferior at mathematics.

And finally, there are the male-dominated cultures within these fields where women historically

haven't even been allowed. So taken all together, it's no wonder that so many girls find

themselves pushed away from studying math or science or engineering.

In many ways, it feels like there's still a no-girls-allowed sign on the door.

Okay, so you might think then, well, if women aren't allowed in the so-called left brain fields,

then they must dominate in the right brain fields.

If women are still discouraged and discriminated against in STEM,

then at least they must thrive in the arts. Well, I'm guessing you know where this is going.

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