Depictions of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) are powerful sources of inspiration for young women who aspire to a career in those fields. But stereotypes of female scientists persist, and we have some way to go to vanquish them. So says Alexandra Phillips, a researcher at UC Santa Barbara’s National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis (NCEAS), in a paper published in the journal Social Media + Society.

“What do you think of when you picture a scientist? For many people, the image of a scientist is influenced by things like movies and TV shows, like ‘The Big Bang Theory,’ where scientists — especially women scientists — are highly stereotyped,” said Phillips, who also serves as NCEAS’s science communication and policy officer.

Indeed, popular culture still has the tendency to typecast females in STEM fields, which, among other things, pits femininity and female attractiveness against intelligence and seriousness, and casts doubt on women’s competence. Add to that a dearth in representations of diversity, and there’s a connection to be made between prevailing stereotypes and lack of role models, and the significant gender disparity in the U.S. STEM workforce. According to statistics from the National Science Board, women make up almost half of the employed U.S. population, but only about a third of the STEM workforce, a proportion that has changed little since 2010.

So in 2018, while pursuing her doctoral degree in organic geochemistry at the California Institute of Technology, Phillips turned to Instagram and started Women Doing Science, a site that features photos and profiles of female scientists all over the world in their elements, be they labs, lecture halls or the field.

“I started Women Doing Science because social media, unlike regular media, can show so many versions of what a scientist looks like, highlighting many potential role models for women in STEM that they may lack in their everyday lives or professional institutions,” Phillips said.

What started as a creative endeavor and a bit of activism quickly evolved into an international movement as submissions rolled in from female scientists all over the world. There are women doing science underwater, peering through microscopes, examining rocks, studying animals, testing robots, giving lectures. They range in appearance and dress, and they all look like they’re enjoying their work. The site currently has almost 100,000 followers and has gained a large crew of volunteers who help recruit more scientists and write about their work.

Source: Read Full Article