Research Paper on Gender Inequality in Science and Technology

Introduction

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Developmental (OECD) 2017 Science, and Technology Scoreboard showed how females are presented as far as the science and technology in concern in our society (Cheryan, Siy, Vichayapai, Drury & Kim, 2011). According to some world statistics such as PISA show that young males seem to overwhelm young females in some of the technical subjects and courses which are mostly viewed as masculine oriented such as in math and science subjects; and thus it is assumed that this may contribute to early biases and shape the negative perceptions of the ability which influence the involvement of women in the field of science and career paths. And that, women, do not still prefer to select natural sciences, engineering, and ICT subject of studies. Nonetheless, Women have made inventions and discoveries of some criticism in the field of science and technology. For instance, windshield wipers by Mary Anderson in 1903; Kevlar by Stephanie Kwolek and the language programming COBOL in which Grace Hopper was introducing the idea that computer programs needed to be formulated that is relatively more of English language (Stepan, 1986). Regardless of the many contributions by the women, the gap in wages persists. Statistically, women earn 4 to 29% lower to that of men in the field of science. However, some analysis indicates that females that handle more of ICT-intensive roles in their work tend to have higher wages than men in most countries. In future, it is pre-assumed that the digital transformation would assist achieving gender equality and ensuring that women undergo the much needed special training to be in a position to handle technical tasks.

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Stereotypes exist because of complicated socio-cultural elements. These can vary based on nationality, social status, and age. The stereotypes tend to influence the way various individuals thinks and make on ideas. Depending on gender variation, socio-cultural factors describe both men and women features. The significant gender discrimination indicate a proportion in the kind of work with the males going for the more scientific job and women going for the relatively nurturing type of employment. The most regular stereotypes are that male are majored and regarded as better engineers, scientists, and computer scientists, but on the females are mostly viewed as better instructors, community health workers. This specific paper will emphasize on the area of science and technology and the associated stereotypical elements and bias. Stereotypic learning resources and gender-biased learning and teaching materials are essential elements to keep into account in managing gender stereotypes in science and technology field. Such factors may negatively impact children at a relatively tender age and may influence them to gain gender-biased opinions. Stereotyping can result in gender-biased attitudes by girls in the field of science.

In the current particular research paper, we investigated the Stereotype gender roles in science and society and how such stereotypes and discriminatory factors that have influenced the gender bias in the field of science have shaped the community. The society has been negatively influenced by the levels of stereotypes that discriminate against our women joining the scientific, innovation and information technology fields. For instance, it has significantly compromised the human resource in the scientific area and innovation; thus may deprive the society of its development at some point in time.

Research Questions

The study questions included the following:

• How do stereotyping gender role in science impacts on society?
• What are some of the causes of gender stereotype?
• What remedies might be useful in preventing or reducing gender stereotype in science and society?
• These three questions define what the researcher studied

Problem Statement

The purpose of this specific paper aims at highlighting issues regarding gender stereotyping in science and society .the study focuses on enhancing a local educational environment for gender mainstreaming right from the elementary schools to the career point. A team of females in the faculty of science and technology and students were surveyed to determine the frequency of gender stereotyping in our society. This study was conducted using quantitative and qualitative methodologies to investigate the problem of gender is stereotyping in our society education in a working environment from both workers who had a scientific role to play.

Methodology

The aim of this specific research paper was to consider possible causes of gender stereotypes in our society and to offer potential solutions. The method and data gathering were ideal since it gave a wide range of data based on different challenges that are associated with gender stereotyping and work patterns of women in the scientific field and innovation. The females who had science-oriented jobs and career paths were requested to provide feedback separately and send the feedback for analysis.

Research Design

The survey design was based on the survey and used in this paper based on the gender-based research conducted in this specific area of study. The study approach applied in this research is the Qualitative method. The Qualitative way is regarded to be relatively more effective since the research paper aims at to investigate the issues of gender are stereotyping in science and innovation in our society; therefore, the Qualitative method is preferred when asking for the in-depth opinions and responses from the participants.

Sampling

Regarding the successful research which has applied this method of sampling, the data that was obtained in this survey will be considered relevant for this study.

The study sample had 6 faculties of science and IT.

Purpose Statement

Its purpose was to consider possible causes and issues of gender stereotyping and to recommend potential remedies.

Data Collection

A research via the use of questionnaires was applied and addressed to the respondents. A direct and indirect interview for the nursing faculty and the nursing students. The questions were be pre-tested by friends and colleagues who gave suggestions where relevant. They were addressed to the target group and then picked later as the demand of the situation.

Discussion

Stereotyping Gender Role in Our Society, Media

The portrayal of females in media is one of the significant contributors to gender stereotypes in various fields including in science and innovation perception since it embeds on basis misconception of gender identity starting from the tender age. The Society tends to describe the femininity other female features as the significant desirable form of beauty and used in advertising mostly beauty products such as the lotions; however, their male counterpart is depicted as sturdy and can handle machines and technology(Martin, 1991). This makes girls to view themselves as an icon of beauty and that they have to focus on ways on how to stay attractive in the society while their boys' counterparts are to venture into relatively tough tasks like operating the machines. Inflicting such notion into the minds of young girls in turn negatively impacts the development of their gender identities since they may have a mindset to focus on their beauty as shown by the media than making an effort in the field of science in the society. The media, on the other hand, tend to portray the image of masculinity indicating that it is the male who has the capacity to handle complex and heavy machines; therefore, negatively poses an influence on the development of gender identity of females at relatively an early age since they are made to believe from appearances is a major factor that defines someone's role in the society.

Moreover, the macho and heroic image associated with masculine features in both mainstream and social media indicates the desirable masculine behaviour for men, and undesirable, non-feminine behaviour for females in our society. Such illustrations via our media make the community believe that only the male can be involved in technical undertaking on issues of science, innovation and IT.nontheless, when individual access the media, what he or she would like to search on more about tend to differ based on gender. Women seem to focus more on fashion and beauty trending while central are seen to find more about the rending machines like newest models of bikes or cars and try to compare the degree of technology applied o each machine. Search on the varied search engines may influence the thinking direction of both the males and female based on the world of science, innovation and IT in the society.

Gender and Literature

The gender bias has also been indulged in the education system, and literature works by using gender-biased science education resources. Gender stereotypes are deeply rooted in the context of education resources and materials in our society. Some of the technical subjected are always associated with the males and humanities and art are viewed as women's subject. The belief seems to circulate among the young people as they make the educational resources to mould their perception about science in our society. For instance, boys will always prefer physics and math as girls going for history.

Nonetheless, most of the literature work presented at educational centers are having gender bias factor in them. According to some researcher who had worked on the topic stated that some books even start lines like "the man invented.." and a He pronoun is used most of the time in most of the literature works including the holy bible. Such issues tend to divert the perception of women who are forced to think that their male counterparts are relatively more superior and can handle technical jobs that are science oriented.

Experiences Related to Stereotyping Gender Roles

Stereotypes are essential in various manners. Since it forms our assumptions and background, and even make us want to provide solutions to the identified pitfall due to stereotypes. However, in most instances, gender stereotypes tend to to be harmful and may never apply as a tool to cope in social conditions. In case of gender, the emphasis is majorly on women, and how stereotypical views of women's role and behaviour has resulted into a position of women in the society which mostly do not seem to favour the women. The fact that someone is a female automatically was linked with some disadvantageous effects in a patriarchal society and even resulted in human right abuse. Women were designed for the roles that they were supposed to play in society, and when it came to sciences and technical tasks, women were excluded. It is no doubt that the Gender stereotyping negatively affects women; for example, it deters and put limitations on their career, profession and academic opportunities. The society tends to alienate the females with specific roles and professions that are never scientifically oriented, for instance, the engineering profession has been for a long time associated with male masculinity and women had no chance of pursuing the profession;therefore, it hindered their ability to contribute to the field of science and innovation effectively.

Fig 1.Distribution of profession type per gender

From the graph, it clearly illustrates that more men undertake science profession as compared to women with women at 56% while women are at 30.5%.on the other hand women tend to pursue non-science profession (46.8%) more than men who lags at (37.2%)

Over the past decades, males tend to be considered in academic life at the expense of females, but this has changed over time. Even though girls are currently offered more programs at the university, the females still find it challenging...