I hate most anything that revolves around science and math.
In grade school, math and science classes were always my weakest subjects — they just never clicked.
Before coming to college, I made sure to take any sort of STEM class for university credit.
So, in my two years at the University of Idaho, I have never had to touch a math textbook or calculator, or sit in a lab learning about anything other than basics about rocks and minerals.
Sometimes I think about how helpful or refreshing it would be to dive back into a low, low-level math class just to get my feet wet again. I usually think these thoughts when I realize that I did just use my fingers to count change and my only useful knowledge of science is thanks to Bill Nye the Science Guy.
I am a journalist, a writer — it is not inherently important that I remember anything other than the basics about past science and math courses.
Although I can never imagine being a computer programmer, scientist or engineer, I envy them.
Anyone who studies in these fields is undoubtedly pretty amazing. Even more amazing are the women that enter these fields. STEM professions aren’t entirely welcoming to the female population.
I do not know about every single detail that is put into STEM careers, but I do know that these women should be applauded — especially by people like me, who rarely see a first-hand account of how hard they work.
Since it is National Women’s History Month, there is no better time to observe the many women that break barriers continuously. It is a month for look- ing back at the past accomplishments and triumphs of women. It is also a time to simply celebrate women and look to the future of their endeavors.
Historically, women have created immense change in regard to the workforce. For years now, women have taken on university courses and entered a vicious job market, even though those two things do not necessarily always greet females with open arms.
Women are currently making waves in STEM fields, even if the public does not always hear about it.
As history shows, women have marched, voted, protested and worked vigorously to be equal with their male counterparts. Past female pioneers made way for a future filled with strong women, and now
is the time to celebrate women of the present.
The world is now, more than ever, driven by math and science — subjects that few people out of the whole can actually strive in. So when I see women at UI taking part in STEM majors, classes and internships, my admiration for the work that they do in unwelcoming fields only grows.
There are women con- stantly chipping away at the glass ceiling covering STEM fields.
Many people assume that there are more men working in STEM fields than women. And while that is correct, it does not mean that there are fewer women doing well in those fields.
According to the National Girls Collaborative Project, women earned about 57 percent of bachelor’s degrees in all fields in 2013 and 50 percent of science and engineering bachelor’s degrees. They also tend to earn more degrees in biological sciences than they do in engineering, mathematics and computer sciences.
In regard to the national workforce, women now make up half of the United States college-educated workforce. But, statistics from the National Girls Collaborative Project show only 29 percent of the science and engineering work- force is made of women, who still remain under- represented. However, the disparity is becoming less and less prevalent with time, passion and some cheering on from people outside the field.
It can be difficult to break into any sort of STEM field, but women are doing more than they ever have before.
It is easy to think about the more common professions that women possess and put women into those boxes and categories. However, it’s more important now to encourage women in any field they seek.
Hailey Stewart can be reached at [email protected]