Without any further ado, women do not get enough support in the STEM field.
According to the Global Gender Gap Report (2023), women make up just 29.2% of the STEM workforce, but they make up over 50% of non-STEM employment.
STEM: do women get enough support in the field?
Do you remember how in school you would learn about major contributions from female scientists in history, from Marie Curie to Ada Lovelace? However, these facts do not help solve the gender gap problem in STEM. In 2025, it still remains a persistent challenge.
As mentioned, women in science and technology continue to face barriers in STEM. These include bias, fewer leadership opportunities, and pay disparities. The lack of role models for women in STEM deters future female students from pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
This article explores why women in STEM careers need more support and how to drive meaningful change. From mentorship programs to workplace reforms, EduBirdie will solve the question of how to encourage girls to pursue STEM careers and close the gap. Supporting diversity isn't just a moral obligation on the 8 of March — it’s an everyday strategy for economic and technological growth.
The current state of women in STEM
Despite growing awareness, gender bias in STEM remains significant. According to UNESCO’s women in STEM statistics, women make up fewer than 10% of researchers in several nations. UNESCO states in the 2024 publication ‘Changing the Equation: Securing STEM Careers for Women’ that just 22% of STEM professions in G20 countries are held by women.
These gaps are not just statistics. They shape career opportunities, innovation, and economic growth.
These differences have an effect that goes beyond the size of the workforce. Young girls are deterred from pursuing STEM education because of the obstacles women face in STEM careers. Pay disparities still exist, with women in computer science jobs making 18% less than men.
Another obstacle to career advancement is that, in comparison to males with comparable qualifications, women in STEM organizations report fewer leadership opportunities and promotions. These barriers limit STEM diversity and inclusion and reduce the potential for women-led innovation in STEM and groundbreaking discoveries.
"Disparities in some fields are more pronounced than in others. Let’s talk about women in tech careers. Only 15% of engineers are female, while women in artificial intelligence make up only 12% of specialists. In addition, women are underrepresented in mathematics and computer science. Why? The primary causes of these gaps include a lack of mentorship, corporate cultures, and gender bias in STEM.
Equal opportunities in STEM, stronger support for women in STEM, and a commitment to change at all levels — these will help increase the amount of female representatives in the fields. Companies that prioritize diversity in tech and are interested in how to increase female participation in STEM fields and neurodiversity in the workplace are the ones driving progress in the industry.
4 key challenges women face in STEM
Unfortunately, we see increasing barriers to women in STEM every year. Deep-rooted challenges continue to discourage women from entering and thriving in the field.
Stereotypes
There is a belief that STEM is a field dominated by men, which is, as we’ve seen before, true. Despite evidence of women's accomplishments in tech fields, STEM is still considered ‘a man's world’. According to gender stereotypes, women are less qualified for professions such as artificial intelligence, mathematics, and engineering. Moreover, this prejudice begins at a young age. STEM education for girls is not encouraged. Therefore, as simple as that, fewer young women choose technical occupations.
Lack of representation and role models
A shortage of successful women in STEM breaking barriers further discourages young women from pursuing these careers. Early-career professionals find it challenging to imagine their own success due to the lack of women in technology leadership. Role of mentorship in supporting women in STEM is huge. However, many women do not have access to it.
Encouraging women in STEM can be done successfully by showcasing the accomplishments of female trailblazers. Providing STEM scholarships for women is also one of the most important factors in increasing female presence in tech fields.
Workplace culture and discrimination
Companies need to address how to create inclusive workplaces in STEM. Women in STEM experience exclusion from leadership positions. They find it difficult to be recognized for their contributions in male-dominated fields. This affects pay equity and promotions. Fundamentally, female employee retention rates are better in companies that actively support equal opportunities in STEM and cultivate a respectful atmosphere.
Work-life balance and family responsibilities
It was never a surprise that women would be more occupied with family responsibilities than men. Women of all ages are masters in juggling career and family responsibilities. Nevertheless, it is a major challenge that is also a reason for women in tech careers, particularly in fast-paced industries where long hours are expected.
Why are women underrepresented in STEM? Women in academia are frequently under pressure to put off starting a family in order to further their careers. On the other side of the world, women MUST become mothers before hitting 30. Altogether, women find it more difficult to compete with male coworkers. Let’s be honest: men might not be subject to the same caregiving expectations when there are rigid standards in place.
Employing more women in tech is important for reasons other than meeting diversity targets; it also calls for the development of work environments that encourage career longevity.
Women need more support
Women are strong. They are fighting for their place under the sun in STEM. Yet, they need our support to feel comfortable in the tech environment.
Research consistently shows that the impact of gender diversity in STEM industries is huge. According to a McKinsey study, ‘Diversity Matters Even More: The Case for Holistic Impact’, businesses with a balanced workforce have a 15% higher chance of outperforming rivals. In the meantime, women in engineering provide distinct problem-solving methods, boosting productivity and innovation.
One great example of the need for gender diversity in solving difficult engineering problems was NASA's all-female spacewalk in 2019. When it comes to AI creation, it is also evident why companies should employ more women in tech: algorithms created by homogeneous teams can reinforce prejudices, whereas diverse teams provide more inclusive solutions.
"Representing women in mathematics and other STEM fields is not just about fairness — it’s an economic imperative. In fact, a Harvard Business Review study states that companies with more women in leadership roles reported a 34% higher return on investment. Why companies should hire more women in tech directly links to economic growth, as closing the gender gap could add $12 trillion to global GDP.
Beyond numbers, empowering women in STEM enhances societal progress. It may lead to medical breakthroughs and sustainable technologies. Take Tu Youyou, the Chinese scientist whose discovery of artemisinin transformed malaria treatment. Imagine the potential unlocked by supporting more women like her.
How can we increase female participation in STEM fields?
Real change for women in engineering, AI, math, and other STEM fields requires serious actions at multiple levels. In EduBirdie’s opinion, the best initiatives supporting women in STEM ideas can be:
- Policy Changes & institutional support.
- Fair hiring practices, equal pay, and anti-discrimination policies.
- Companies must implement policies that ensure women in mathematics and other fields have the same career advancement opportunities as their male counterparts.
- Mentorship & Sponsorship Programs.
- Mentorship programs that connect early-career professionals with experienced leaders.
- Sponsorship goes a step further, ensuring women get access to high-impact projects and leadership roles.
- STEM Education.
- Everything starts from the early years. Young girls must be provided with hands-on learning through STEM workshops, coding boot camps, and scholarships.
- Workplace Culture Shift.
- Companies should implement flexible work policies.
- Normalize parental leave for all genders.
- Leadership teams must commit to increasing diversity in tech through active hiring strategies and transparency in promotions.
- Media Representation & Public Awareness
- Public perception plays a key role in inspiring change.
- Media must recognize women’s achievements in STEM research topics through awards, media coverage, and campaigns.
- Media should highlight women in tech and celebrate their contributions in a way that normalizes their presence rather than treating them as exceptions.
Women are essential participants in STEM; let’s finally recognize it!
Women in STEM have already proven their ability to revolutionize industries, but without stronger support, progress remains slow. How to close the gender gap in STEM is not just a theoretical question — it demands collective action.
Essay writing services like EduBirdies want to highlight the issue and help solve it! Tech companies commit to diversity in hiring! Besides, the STEM gender equality gap starts in education. Institutions need to fund more scholarships and mentorship programs. People need to confront prejudices and inspire young females to pursue careers in STEM.
The path to inclusivity is clear. Now is the moment to act! Let's ensure that the upcoming generation of female mathematicians, scientists, and engineers works in industries that respect and acknowledge them.
