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The Unscientific Denial

Context: Discrimination against females in Science, Technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Women and STEM

• According to available UNESCO data, In India, about 43% of women constitute the graduate population in STEM, which is one of the highest in the world, but only 14%of women join academic institutions and universities. Surprisingly, the highest number of female researchers are in Tunisia, Africa (55%) followed by Argentina (53%)
• The percentage of women in faculty positions begins to shrink with each step up the ladder.The number decreases when it comes to a position involving decision-making.
• Even recognition of merit when it comes to women is sluggish when it comes to the total number of women fellows in the three science academies of India — 7% for the Indian Academy of Sciences (IAS); 5% for the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), and 8% for the National Academy of Sciences India (NASI),
• IIT Madras has only 31 females out of 314 professors (10.2%) and IIT Bombay only has 25 out of 143 professors (17.5%).
• According to a survey by the University Grants Commission (UGC), seven of the 54 central universities and 52 of the 456 State universities; have female vice-chancellors.
• Out of the six Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) established in the 20th century, only IIT Kharagpur and IIT Delhi have women members on their governing body.

Why are there less women in STEM?

Role of Schools and Families

• Schools and families are responsible for propagating the stereotype that STEM is for men.
• Women are told to opt for education and occupation that are less strenuous and “suited” for them.
• Parents refuse to send girls to outstation coaching or support them financially (Low number of girls in IIT)

Masculine Culture in STEM

• In 1933 when Kamala Sohonie approached Sir C.V. Raman to pursue research in physics under his guidance. The Nobel Laureate turned the request down on the ground that ‘she was a woman’.
• Even in present times STEM fields across the world have deep-rooted sexist and masculine culture. These social hierarchies are furthered by racial, religious and casteist prejudice.

What is the government doing to improve the Situation?

The Government of India has been ramping up efforts to remove gender inequality by providing incentives for women’s higher education. Some of these initiatives such as:

Two Programmes under the Department of Science and Technology

1. Gender Advancement for Transforming Institutions (GATI)– A pilot project to promote gender equity in science and technology
2. Knowledge Involvement in Research Advancement through Nurturing (KIRAN) A plan to encourage women scientists in science and technology and also preventing women scientists from giving up research due to family reasons.

It is hoped the programmes that have been initiated by the Government to empower women in the workforce will usher in gender parity by 2047, which would mark the centenary of India’s Independence. Most importantly, gender equality or parity will happen only when there is a change in mindset and institutions consider women as assets rather than simply a diversity rectification issue.