On the occasion of International Women's Day-2021, The UN Chief António Guterres, in his message said,"Whether running a country, a business or a popular movement, women are making contributions that are delivering for all and driving progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals."
I would like to reproduce my article in MeriNews portal which has ben discontinued, "Raise awareness about bias against women in education: Merinews article by Dr lalit Kishore mentioned in 'Women in STEM' Project in US" as my contribution to the observance.
The article goes as follows.
The gender issues in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education had been a cause of concern for many educators and pedagogues. Many higher education institutions have been researching on the issue of fewer presences of women and girls in STEM education and occupations.
According to 'Women in Stem' Project of Harvard College of Harvard University in the US, the project was mounted to create awareness that to the fact that opportunity to advance in STEM fields was open to everyone -male or female.
Providing the reference and link of the article of Dr Lalit Kishore published in merinews.com “Do Men and Women Learn Differently?”, the project holders put forth, “The simple fact is that women learn differently. Men and women are supposed to be equal, but not the same and do not have to be the same. If the teaching methods are not suitable for a large section of human race, then methods to alter teaching style should be adopted.”
The teaching style of STEM knowledge areas should be based on the cooperative and collaborative learning techniques. Furthermore, research studies have shown that there are environmental, social and educational barrier to education for women and girls such as sex stereotypes, gender bias, competitive institutional environment, masculine structure of curricula, lecture method and over-emphasis on linear logic think skill. All these are the blockages and barriers to the presence and progress of women in STEM fields, I think.
Here are some of statements of some women scientists on the issue.
Science is not a boy's game, it's not a girl's game. It's everyone's game. It's about where we are and where we're going. -- Nichelle Nichols
It is shameful that there are so few women in science...There is a misconception in America that women scientists are all dowdy spinsters. This is the fault of men." Chien-Shiung Wu, experimental physicist.
Science makes people reach selflessly for truth and objectivity; it teaches people to accept reality, with wonder and admiration, not to mention the deep awe and joy that the natural order of things brings to the true scientist. - Lise Meitner
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