Promotion In STEM Careers Seems To Be Denied To Women: Shashi Tharoor In Parliament
Speaking in the Lok Sabha today, Congress’ Shashi Tharoor called attention to the fact that, despite the WISE-KIRAN program, there are still few women in senior positions in the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).
Tharoor raised the matter by saying it a very important issue which need great attention. He noted that although there are few women in STEM fields, the low number of women in STEM leadership is concerning given their exceptional academic achievement.
Only 1/3 of the women are in STEM careers.
Promotion in STEM careers seems to be denied to women and the top positions are regularly occupied by men.
Has the govt thought about implementing gender affirmative programmes to ensure that the number of women in STEM disciplines… pic.twitter.com/yhSSyZOm2j
— Congress (@INCIndia) February 7, 2024
“Only about 25 per cent of academic seats are occupied by women students and 90 per cent of them tend to be diploma holders and gold medallist. The future belongs to women, however only one third of the women are in STEM career despite their great successes in education system. It is particularly worrying that Promotion in STEM careers seems to be denied to women and top positions are regularly occupied by men”, said Tharoor.
Addressing the gap between women’s spectacular performance in STEM field and their leadership position in the STEM career, the congress leader said, “We are seeing a situation, where pretty much in every STEM discipline the top positions are regularly occupied by men. Because it is startling to see even when the man and the woman in the leadership position the man chance for leadership comes two or three years before woman.”
Questioning the Union Government to address the issues, he asked, “Has the govt thought about implementing gender affirmative programmes to ensure that the number of women in STEM disciplines goes up and that they are encouraged to take on leadership positions?”.
Emphasising the issues raised in the house he further added, “The pattern has been studied and I wish that government look into the matter and has any thought on how to remedy the situation. So that women do well in studies, get career opportunities”.
Notably, on February 1, Finance Minister during her budget speech highlighted increasing rate of women participation in education sector. “Female enrolment in higher education has gone up by 28 per cent in the last 10 years,” said Nirmala Sitharaman. She also informed about the growing role of women enrolment in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) field in India. “In the STEM courses the girls and women participation, in India, is 43 per cent which is highest in the world,” Sitharaman informed.
