Study on factors fuelling lack of women in STEM in Asia

UNESCO Bangkok Press Release

Innovative study examines factors fuelling lack of women in science, technology, mathematics and engineering (STEM) fields in Asia

BANGKOK, 9 MARCH 2015 – When it comes to science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields (STEM) in Asia, women are all too often underpaid and underrepresented. A study launched by UNESCO Bangkok in conjunction with celebrations surrounding International Women's Day (8 March) reveals that these disparities do not begin in the workplace. Rather they become evident in earlier years of schooling, fuelled by a variety of educational and psychosocial factors that limit the aspirations – and ultimately the outcomes –of females in the region.

“A Complex Formula: Girls and Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in Asia”, responds to the dearth of regional research on gender disparities in STEM fields, the factors fuelling them and the steps that can be taken toward improving the balance by attracting more girls and women to these fields.

UNESCO Bangkok Director Gwang-Jo Kim said that the report makes an important contribution to the dialogue around women in STEM and offers "a blueprint to a more inclusive education and one that in practical terms responds to the increasing demand in the region and worldwide for expertise in these fields".

"In the Asia-Pacific, many countries are prioritizing STEM fields in their national policies, yet the status of women, let alone their opportunities to pursue STEM fields in higher education and eventually as a career, vary from country to country," Mr Kim said.

The report will be launched at "A Night under the Stars", a special event at Bangkok's Science Center for Education, which will include a panel discussion featuring women working in STEM fields in Asia sharing their challenges and successes.

Speaking to the themes raised of the report, Naoko Yamazaki, Japan's second female astronaut, spoke of the importance of encouraging children to pursue their dreams in a video message prepared for the event, without allowing stereotypes to limit their choices.

"When I was a young girl, I liked to watch the stars in the sky and in planetariums, also science fiction movies like Star Wars inspired me a lot. I believed that we would all be able to go to space when we were grown up. Then I became an engineer because I wanted to build a spaceship," she said. "My parents had no idea about space development, but they were very supportive fortunately.”

Motivation from teachers and peers was also important to the formative years of Jingmei Li, a panelist at the launch event from Singapore, 2014 UNESCO-L’Oréal International Fellowship Winner as part of the For Women in Science Programme and post-doctoral researcher in the field of women’s health at the Karolisnka Institutet in Sweden.

“A good dose of encouragement and motivation from my teachers and peers has gone a long way in kindling my passion for science," she said. "When I see other people being passionate about work, I feel inspired to be passionate about my own work. True passion is contagious!”

'A COMPLEX FORMULA': KEY FINDINGS

WHERE DO WE STAND?

The report presents research from throughout Asia, however seven countries were singled out for in depth study: Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, the Republic of Korea and Viet Nam. A questionnaire was conducted with female and male students, as well as classroom observations and interviews with educators and STEM professionals in these countries while educational, psychosocial and labor market information was also studied.

Given the starkly different economic and sociocultural realities among the countries studied, findings varied tremendously between them. However some patterns related to female participation in STEM fields became apparent.

For example, gender disparities in STEM throughout Asia are much starker at the higher echelons of both academia and in the workplace. In South Korea, for instance, the proportion of females enrolled at the bachelor level was 52% in science and 19.5% in engineering as of 2011. At the doctoral level, however, those numbers sunk to 38% and 12% respectively.

In addition within STEM fields in higher education, women overwhelmingly tend to pursue science-based disciplines rather than maths-based ones. This was the case even in countries which had comparatively higher rates of female participation in STEM fields than others in Asia, such as Malaysia, where females accounted for 62% of students enrolled in medicine, while comprising only 36% of those in engineering.

These academic trends translate into workplace reality as well. For example, out of 17 countries in Asia for which information was available, females accounted for at least half of all researchers in only three – Kazakhstan, Thailand and the Philippines – according to the latest data from UNESCO's Institute for Statistics.

WHAT BROUGHT US HERE?

Having assessed the situation, “A Complex Formula” then looks at the myriad factors responsible for the underrepresentation of women in STEM. Psychosocial factors are key here, including parental and wider cultural influences, as are stereotypes about “appropriate” subjects for young women to study.

The study found evidence of the latter in school textbooks and other learning materials that conveyed stereotypical views of gender.

Expectations are blinkered by such influences and anxieties raised around STEM subjects which creates a negative cycle that ultimately results in fewer female role models for girls and young women in STEM.

WHERE TO FROM HERE?

“A Complex Formula” closes with suggestions that can be taken to help rectify the gender imbalance in STEM fields.

Gender-responsive action from governments is crucial in this regard, including in reviewing curriculum to guard against stereotyping as well as in teacher education and policies on recruitment – the report found far more male than female teachers in STEM subjects in many Asian countries, especially as the level of education increases.

To that end, the study calls for not only an increased number of female teachers in STEM fields, but for the wider promotion of female success stories to serve as role models for younger generations.

Given cultural factors found in many countries throughout the region, “A Complex Formula” also emphasizes the importance of parental and teacher encouragement, saying this “cannot be underestimated”.

“A Complex Formula” is the second in a series of studies that are part of a joint research initiative between UNESCO Bangkok and the Korean Women’s Development Initiative (KWDI) exploring issues of gender, education and transition to the labour market.

The full report is available here: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0023/002315/231519e.pdf

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