The recognition of Dr Firdausi Qadri’s lifelong contribution to scientific research is a cause for huge celebration, especially when underrepresentation of women and girls in workforce and higher education in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) remains a serious concern across various regions. South and West Asia have the lowest proportion of women in STEM in the world, and Bangladesh is at the very bottom with only 14 per cent involved in STEM.
It is to be noted that Dr. Firdausi Qadri, emeritus scientist of ICDDR,B received Magsaysay Award this year and made the nation proud. Her achievements lie in the research and development of vaccines of cholera and typhoid. Dr. Firdausi with her team led a feasibility study on a newer, more affordable cholera vaccine. In her research career, she has 491 publications and 17,014 citations. In 2014, she founded the Institute for Developing Science and Health Initiatives (ideSHi), which conducts biomedical and public health research, and is involved in building scientific capacity. She is an inspiration to girls and women to pursue education and careers in STEM.
BARRIERS TO STEM: In Bangladesh, despite noteworthy progress in girls’ education over the last few decades, barriers to STEM remain. In 2019-2020, women comprise about 28 per cent of students enrolled in STEM subjects at the higher secondary level; that figure drops to 24 per cent at undergraduate level. However, this figure does not reveal how many women are enrolled in the technology and engineering fields, which are the most lucrative STEM areas in terms of employment. Women are significantly underrepresented in engineering, which happens to be the most highly valued STEM field in Bangladesh.
Conscious and unconscious biases, lack of role models, lower expectations of parents and teachers of girls’ performance in STEM and lack of information regarding career opportunities are some of the barriers to STEM education for girls in Bangladesh. In schools, girls are underrepresented in science classes. This is partly because girls are often required to do more domestic work than their male counterparts. They may not always have adequate access to digital devices and the Internet compared to boys. Girls are also more exposed to safety risks in their communities and on the way to school. The fear of attack is sufficient to discourage them from attending school. Many parents prefer to keep their daughters at home for their protection or marry them off. All of this results in fewer girls pursuing STEM education.
Girls who manage to overcome these barriers and go to universities are sometimes subjected to discriminatory attitudes from teachers and classmates. These attitudes are demotivating. Women in STEM research and academia may also face gender discrimination in their career advancement. Female STEM professionals may have to balance the multiple roles they play. Their partners and family members may not offer adequate support with their domestic and caregiving responsibilities. This is one reason why many women end up leaving their STEM jobs.
ROLE OF INDUSTRY: Most STEM industries in Bangladesh are primarily male-dominated, and this acts as a deterrent. Some companies still prefer to hire men over women because of misperceptions such as women being less capable, not being able to work overtime, or taking more sick leave. Women who work in such organisations may become disheartened and give up their career in STEM.
The STEM industry needs to be more inclusive by removing discriminatory policies. There should be targeted efforts to make the STEM work environment welcoming to women. Mentoring programmes should be created in which women who have succeeded in STEM careers coach and encourage younger women. This can help newer employees navigate the barriers they might face. Organisations may consider remote-working options, which can offer some flexibility for women with multiple roles. Building capacity on transferable soft skills should also be developed.
It is not just the garment industry in Bangladesh that needs a female workforce educated in STEM. We should have more STEM teachers, agricultural leaders, scientists, mathematicians, and engineers as industries continue to evolve. We need women in Artificial Intelligence (AI) research and development–a field that is moving extremely fast and is already affecting various aspects of politics, society, communication and our lives. Women must be part of the design teams of AI related products. Otherwise, the algorithms developed by others may continue to perpetuate prejudices against women.
ROLE OF FAMILY: In an interview, Dr. Qadri mentioned “My mother was a professor at the University of Dhaka. My grandmother was also very progressive. She believed that girls should study. She inspired me. Both of my grandparents had played a role so that I became a researcher. My grandmother would be angry when marriage was proposed for me.” This clearly shows how critical the role of family is in the journey of a girl towards a career in STEM.
When a girl child grows up in a family where her intellectual capabilities are valued equally with those of boys, she will be more confident to pursue a career in STEM. Parents should encourage boys and girls equally to develop interest in maths and science. Mothers who are in STEM professions can be strong role models for their daughters. Education systems are also important. The government should adopt and implement policies that specifically encourage and support fathers’ involvement in early childhood development, care, and education. This will send a strong signal to the society that parenting responsibilities should be shared by both parents. Employers will have to ensure that workplace policies enable both men and women in performing their roles in child rearing and domestic work.
Evidence from different parts of the world suggests that when educators talk to girls about STEM and actively encourage them, the girls become more interested in these subjects. It is important to engage girls in hands-on STEM activities or let them shadow a STEM job for a certain period. Various organisations in Bangladesh can offer internship opportunities to girls. Both men and women well-established in STEM careers can be mentors to young women.
Celebrating female role models is very important. Nearly half of all girls interested in STEM do not know a woman in a STEM related profession. Media can play an important role in this regard by stopping to disseminate gender stereotypes and promoting messages/images that celebrate successful women including those in STEM. Parents should raise boys and girls equally so that they do not feel confined by stereotyped societal expectations. Then girls will feel confident to study STEM.
END NOTE: STEM is influencing various aspects of our lives including education, employment, communication, healthcare, entertainment etc., and will shape our future. In Bangladesh, women risk continuing to be unemployed or in low paying jobs that may no longer exist due to automation. They will also miss on new job opportunities, as shifting economies demand diversified skills. It is extremely critical that we take initiatives to engage more girls and women in STEM education and careers if they are to realise their potential and Bangladesh is to achieve sustainable development.
Laila Khondkar is an international development worker. laila.khondkar@gmail.com
First published on The Financial Express | September 25, 2021
