Why It’s Important to Highlight Women in Science
This blog post is part of the Super Cool Scientists FAQ Series, where we answer some of the most common questions about the project.
The Super Cool Scientists books highlight today’s professionals doing work across career fields in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM)—and they happen to be women or non-binary identified people. So sometimes we do get asked:
Why do you highlight women in science?
This is interesting in that it's probably the only question I get from two very different perspectives.
Most often, I’m asked by people who already understand the fact that women and other underrepresented groups are sorely lacking in science and tech industries. This is even more true the more technical the fields get and the higher in leadership the roles are. In that case, the answer is meant to validate and support others and I’m grateful to be invited into the space to contribute to that larger community conversation around diversity in STEM.
However, the other perspective is from people who don’t know those facts, or tougher, don’t care to believe those facts and take the stories seriously. This case actually takes me back to my very first public book talk.
About 20 people, some family and friends, some not, sat in a small arts center and listened to me talk about Super Cool Scientists for maybe a half hour. I talked about how it started, why the books featured women in science, the process, and read some of the stories aloud thinking to myself, this is going great!
When I opened the floor to questions, the most popular topic with the audience was the process—the process of publishing the book and running a successful crowdfunding campaign.
But then, an elderly woman in the front row raised her hand and asked, “But why all women?”.
Even though I thought I had just addressed that clearly in the presentation, it hadn’t landed for her. So, I talked it through again, with the support of others in the audience, but the point I tried to make still didn’t stick. I’m not sure if she’d call it a generational thing or what, but our conversation got a little defensive, almost to the point of arguing. Not knowing what else to do at that moment, I redirected.
It was a good reminder that not everyone in your audience is going to understand your perspective or the importance of the things you’re sharing in the same ways, based on their own beliefs, experiences, and opinions.
With that said, it is also important to remember your own story and not lose your voice and your truth to the people who may be louder than you. Stay aware and act smart. Reading a room is definitely a thing. Be respectful, but don’t back down. Say your piece and stand by it. Stay safe. The world needs these stories—your stories—because you matter. And representation matters too.
So why women in STEM? If you’re asking because you know the answer and want to make more space for stories like these to shine through—thank you. If you’d like to learn more about why actively creating more welcoming and diverse STEM spaces benefits us all, check out our resources page.