Eradicating gender bias can attract women into Stem

Meera Kaul, chairperson at The Meera Kaul Foundation explores the issues that women face in their careers, what is lacking and how the gaps can be filled.

Are leading women in science, technology, engineering and math (Stem) fields not getting the recognition that they should? Is it really a man's world? Meera Kaul, chairperson at The Meera Kaul Foundation and a passionate advocate for women in Stem with a wealth of experience of over 20 years in the tech industry, explores the issues that women face in their careers, what is lacking and how the gaps can be filled.
Our data at the foundation for women in Stem subjects versus women in Stem careers in the region confirms an imbalanced trend, wherein a higher percentage of women studying Stem subjects is not necessarily translating into a higher number of women in the Stem workforce.
Interestingly, international data from Unesco and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development suggests that compared to the rest of the world, including the US, girls from the Middle East typically outpace boys in math at the primary and secondary school levels. Other industry research in the region also indicates that over 50 per cent of the UAE's federal university graduates in Stem are women, yet we know that this positive figure does not translate into Stem careers, with men still very dominant in this field.
As a woman who has worked in Stem for more than 20 years, I still believe working women in science, technology, engineering and math industries are not getting the recognition or support that they should when compared to male executives in the workplace and this is having a negative impact on their progression from education to career.
In my opinion, it all comes down to the gender stigma created around Stem fields and it is our job at The Meera Kaul Foundation to try and change that perception among the future generation. Education is the tool to create awareness about these issues as well as equip the coming generation with the necessary skills for the progressive Stem industries.
Through investments in women's education and in women-owned enterprises, The Meera Kaul Foundation is working to eradicate gender bias and workplace inequities to enable a healthy professional environment for women in Stem careers.
Research shows that only 21 per cent women graduates in Stem from the Middle East make it into the workforce. On the other hand, according to the foundation's data, women are founders of nearly 35 per cent of all startups in the Middle East. This definitely indicates how entrepreneurship is a great gender equaliser and that women, given equal opportunities, have no dearth of leadership capabilities in any field.
Entrepreneurship does away with the traditional stereotyped biases with gender meritocracy, creating a level playing field for women, while also allowing for more Internet-based and technology-enabled businesses that make the work-home balance easier for women. If we can recreate similar gender-free environments at work, we will automatically see a higher addition of women into the Stem workforce.
Even in the corporate world, there is an increased focus on women to encourage women led start-ups and entrepreneurs, as well as induct more women into Stem and leadership roles in the country. We have seen much higher engagement and involvement with companies even outside of tech, like banking and finance or the aviation industry, supporting initiatives like Hackathons to encourage innovation and support women in technology.
And this is in the best interests of all nations that support working women. It will, without doubt, propel their economic drive on a global level. Gender bias has been on the UAE government agenda for a while now, but we have recently seen a lot more activation. With the setting up of the gender balance council, there has been a renewed focus on women empowerment across industries.
For a country such as the UAE, which shares geopolitical settings similar to its neighbouring Gulf states, the matter of female empowerment, including their equal access to opportunities, education, jobs, equal pay and health care, continues to be a vital consideration in overall economic progress.
When given the same opportunities as their male counterparts, industry reports and our experience across the globe indicate that women can considerably boost GDP by joining the active workforce, specifically in highly lucrative industries such as Stem.
Women not only need the right opportunities but also dedicated mentorship programmes to continue to climb the corporate ladder. I have seen that the greatest impact is created when women support and help each other to overcome these obstacles. There are not many women working in science, technology, engineering and math and I want to set an example for them as a role model and mentor.
There has to be widespread awareness and a foremost belief that women can carry out Stem operations as efficiently as men to overcome the stigma. For women to choose Stem, they need to see it as a viable, long-term career option, and women role models in leadership roles help showcase a potential career graph for women Stem aspirants. By connecting successful women role models from across the globe with aspiring young girls in the region, we can successfully break gender stereotypes.