Posters of prominent women in STEM fields should be prominently displayed in classrooms to inspire more girls and young women to pursue careers in STEM disciplines.
STEM fields (which include science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) are critical for the development of a strong economy and for ensuring the future of our planet.
However, despite comprising a significant proportion of the workforce, women in STEM fields are often under-represented. This is especially true in areas such as computer science and engineering, where women hold only around 20 percent of the positions.
One major reason for this shortfall is the lack of role models. Too often, girls and young women see only images of male scientists and engineers on posters and in textbooks, and they come to believe that boys are often the only ones that should pursue a career in STEM. This is not only inaccurate but it also sends the message that STEM is not for women.
In order to change this situation, schools and other institutions need to provide more exposure to female STEM stars. Posters of women who are prominent in these fields as well as documentaries and other media that focus on women in STEM should be prominently displayed in classrooms. This way, girls and young women will have more positive role models to emulate and will be more likely to pursue careers in STEM.
