Panel Addresses Gender Gap in STEM Fields

By Davis Mathis

Several Trinity University professors voiced concerns over the gender gap in the STEM fields on Thursday and shared their own experiences of gender discrimination.

Professors Kelly Lyons, in biology, Marilyn Wooten, in chemistry, Hoa Nguyen, in mathematics, Niescja Turner, in physics and astronomy, and Veronica McDonald, an engineer and Trinity alumnus, spoke at a panel hosted by Trinity Diversity Connection (TDC) and Trinity Women in Science and Technology (TWIST).

Science, technology, and math are widely known to be male dominated fields, but that isn't the full story, the panelists pointed out. To them, the discrimination and harassment they have experienced seems to be more of an active effort to keep women out rather than something that occurred naturally.

“As the system exists we have biases that to keep women out. Sometimes in subtle ways and sometimes in egregious ways,” Turner said about why women were underrepresented in STEM fields.

The panel seemed to agree that there was a culture working against women in these fields. When they were growing up, the idea that women were not as good at math and science was simply accepted and even taught in school, the panelists said. Each member of the panel had felt pressure not to go into STEM fields on their journey.

“The other big problem is education. Starting K-12 really,” said McDonald. “Only 20 percent of STEM students in college are women so we can’t make an impact in jobs with that number. We have to start earlier to get kids to want to do it.”

Some panelists also mentioned the subtle or explicit sexism in the workplace against them and stated that women in STEM fields are continuing to have a tough time even after they have landed a job.

To address these issues, Lyons said, what needs to be done is to try and teach the men that what they are doing can be harmful or toxic. Turner said the solution would be better leadership. Everyone agreed that a major cultural shift is needed no matter how it is to come about.

“Sometimes people don’t realize they are being sexist and that it is not okay not to say some things,” said Nguyen.

The students who attended were mostly female STEM students and many of them shared their own stories of being discriminated against.

"I think it's important that we discuss issues like this," said Lavanya Hospeti, a sophomore. "We need to continue bringing this to the forefront so that something will be done."

The students agreed with the panel that there was a real issue in the field and that discussions and acknowledgements of it were the first step toward solving the problem.