The quality of life will improve greatly if more women are in STEM-related fields such as Biomedical Engineering. This is because women give a different outlook that will help more people, primarily other females.
THE STATS
Fifty-nine percent of women have a Bachelor's degree in biological and biomedical sciences. However, only 18.7% of women have a bachelor's in engineering and engineering technologies.
Even though there is not a deficit of women in biomedical and biological science, there is a great deficit in the engineering field. Imagine how few women are in biomedical engineering.
It is important to have women in this field, because women give a different outlook on biomedical issues. We must find a solution to this issue.
* (January 3, 2018)Catalyst, Quick Take: Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM)
Received from http://www.catalyst.org/knowledge/women-science-technology-engineering-and-mathematics-stem
DID YOU KNOW???
Because there are not many women in biomedical engineering, there is not nearly as much research about female health as there should be. When women seek healthcare about an issue, doctors look for symptoms that are most commonly shown in men, resulting in women not receiving the help they deserve. Women are also underrepresented when it comes to medical research and clinical trials. The differences between women and men aren't taken into account during research, skewing the results to the favor of men. Click the link below to read more about this issue.
Charleswell, C. (May 15, 2015) Women's Issues
Retrieved from: http://www.hamptoninstitution.org/women-in-health-and-biomedical-research.html#.W1dUOtJKiM_
WHY WOMEN SHOULD BE IN STEM
Women students in biomedical programs are warmly embraced
and that acceptance extends
beyond the classroom**
Women bring many key features to the table with biomedical engineering:
-
The ability to listen
-
Empathy/ability to
understand someone point of view -
Teamwork**
Women who choose biomedical engineering as a career, are recognized and valued in some circumstances and create a tremendous positive presence **
** Christe, B. (2015, February 16) Women in Biomedical Engineering: A Positive Outlook for Technology.
Retrieved from http://www.24x7mag.com/2015/02/women-in-biomedical-engineering/
ENCOURAGE YOUNG GIRLS TO JOIN STEM
Foster interests in math and sciences in girls from a young age, and work to counter negative perceptions they might start developing***
Promote good role models in young girls and surround them with successful women***
Show kids that there are multiple identities out there, not just the two dimensional identities sold to us by popular culture***
***Coles,T.(2017, August 17)How To Encourage Girls To Get Interested In STEM. Retrieved from https://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2017/08/17/girls-stem_a_23078434/
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CHALLENGES THAT WOMEN FACE IN STEM
THE MATERNAL WALL
Once a woman becomes a mother they quickly find that their commitment and competence are questioned. Nearly 2/3 of the responding scientists with children reported running into this form of bias, which came with a loss of opportunities.*