Sally RideWIKIMEDIA, NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATIONThroughout history, women have achieved tremendous accomplishments in the traditionally male-dominated fields of science, technology, engineering, and math—commonly referred to as the STEM fields. We have worked on the Manhattan Project, contributed to human understanding of DNA, discovered radium, and helped design and build the Golden Gate Bridge, just to name a few accomplishments. In addition to mastering difficult subjects and techniques of experimentation, as women, we also had to overcome the bias against our participation in the STEM disciplines, which have limited our opportunities. Although these obstacles are less overt today, bias still remains.
It wasn’t long ago that women were denied the opportunities we are today able to enjoy in science and the other STEM fields. In fact, up through the 1960s, it was common to see job listings for positions like engineers or college science professors that read, “Women need not apply.” Certain professions were viewed as “manly” and therefore not suitable for women. Forget about women’s intellectual curiosity; forget about our intelligence, drive, talent, or creativity. We were simply barred from entry.
Before women were widely accepted into higher education, men pursued degrees in, and predominantly held the jobs that required those degrees. Working toward gender equality in higher education opened the doors for women to get an education, but not a job. The educational acts ...
