In modern STEM (short for science, technology, engineering, and math), sexism remains, although it is far less overt. For centuries, there has been an alarmingly low population of women in the sciences, where even the New York Times has reported the dwindling population of women in computer science.
GitHub, an open-source software, was utilized by researchers to analyze the general behavior toward women. In this software, users can accept code from other users if they feel like it is essential or functional for their project.
The researchers concluded that that code written by women (78.6%) was more accepted than by men’s (74.6%). However, the gender for women in this study was ambiguous. In other words, the code was welcome when it was written unknowingly by a woman.
The researchers of this study confirmed, “women’s acceptance rates dominate over men’s for every programming language in the top 10, to various degrees,”
Unsurprisingly so, the researchers found that once gender was revealed, female programmers were less accepted for their code, (58 percent in comparison to their male counterparts at 61 percent). And to further prove that sexism permeates the programming community, the researchers found that women’s code was still pulled far more than men’s code when both parties used gender neutral profiles.
This is a singular example of several that prove, whether it is subconscious or fully intentional, STEM’s behavior toward women hasn’t fully improved. While women are able to go to university, conduct research and publish it, there is still a discrepancy in the social aspect.
Since the beginning of humanity’s endeavors through the world of scientific discovery, sexism was no stranger to the field. Over and over, we’ve seen women’s revolutionary discoveries stolen by their male peers, rejected by their community, and even disregarded for all their contributions.
The thought was that women were deemed unfit for working in STEM. They were discouraged from publishing their discoveries to the world. And although women are able to go to school now and be recognized for their own research, sexism still remains a variable that halters female success in science.
In another study led by social psychologist, Corinne Moss-Racusin, it was found that resumes topped with a female name were more likely to be rejected than a male’s whose was identical. Within that same study, Moss-Racusin also found that it’s likely that women will be offered less economically than male applicants. In other words, female applicants were offered a starting salary of around $26,000, whereas males were offered approximately $30,000.
So who are the female scientists we should be acknowledging? There are more than we can count. The following women are a few of the major contributors in STEM who have lead to some of the world’s most iconic scientific breakthroughs in recent years.
Ada Lovelace
While women only make up a small portion of the computer programming community, they have equally as much capability as their male peers. Ada Lovelace is often described as the first ever computer programmer. She was known for having published the first algorithm designed for the world’s earliest computer. During her life, the concept of a computer was not yet tangible. Having died young at the age of 36, Ada never saw her work come to life.
Adriana Ocampo
Colombian planetary geologist Adriana Ocampo discovered the Chicxulub crater, which has been thought to have prompted the extinction of most of the Earth’s creatures 66 millions of years ago, including dinosaurs. This crater is located around the Peninsula of Yucatan, Mexico. Ocampo has since lead six expeditions encompassing this area. As a NASA science program manager, she is in charge of leading the space probes’ missions in Jupiter and Pluto.
Katherine Johnson
In regard to technology and the exploration of our universe, Katherine Johnson filled a vital role in sending astronauts to space without the helping hand of a computer. The African American mathematician mastered the art of calculating complicated measurements. These calculations include trajectories, launch windows, and emergency return paths. Her expertise was crucial in the success of multiple NASA projects during her 35-year career and was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by former United States President, Barack Obama.
Lene Vestergaard Hau
This Harvard Professor made it possible to stop light. Huh? What we once thought was impossible was made possible. To further explain, physicist professor Hau is a “quantum magician,” if you will. She was the first to ever stop light, slowing the pulse to 15 miles per hour, compared to it’s normal 186,282 miles per second. Professor Hau and her team managed to get the light to stop. This magical experiment was achieved by chilling atoms to freeze the pulse of light. It is thought that nothing in the universe travels faster than the speed of light, but thanks to Vestergaard, scientists can further understand how light can be manipulated.
Flossie Wong-Staal
Dr. Flossie Wong-Staal is most commended for her work dedicated to the advancement and research of HIV (Human Immunodeficiency virus). We know that this virus cannot be cured (yet), but thanks to Dr. Wong-Staal, science can bridge the gap to understanding it further. In 1983, Wong-Staal was best known for her groundbreaking discovery of HIV. And while she shares the title of co-discoverer, she keeps the title of the first person to ever clone HIV. She managed to prove HIV’s capabilities and effects on the human bodies through her study of the virus’ genetic makeup. It’s thanks to scientists like her that there is hope for a cure to a horrendous virus like HIV and AIDS.
Katie Bouman
What a time to be alive! The 29-year-old computer scientist has recently made it possible for the world to witness the first image of a black hole. Although the photo appears hazy, it is the first visual evidence to have captured the eerie phenomenon. The supermassive black hole was appropriately named Powehi (or “adorned fathomless dark creation” in a Hawaiian language). Others, including myself, would have never thought to witness a miracle such as this. It became an incredible advancement in the field of astrophysics. Since their discovery, black holes were merely illustrated and never seen before. According to Nature, the International Weekly Journal of Science, it was thought that we would need a telescope the size of Earth, approximated 1,000 times greater than our amazing Hubble Space Telescope, just to view Powehi.
Instead, Michael Bremer, an astronomer on the team, explain that their solution was to sync together eight different observatories to give a virtual telescope approximately 10,000 in diameter. Participating telescopes joined to create the “Event Horizon Telescope”. The discovery has inspired plenty of conversation amongst the science community, as there are a lot of questions yet to be answered. Bouman’s successful approach to capturing this image further solidifies Albert EInstein’s claims of a blackhole’s true appearance. Both him and Stephen Hawking are smiling from the stars.
When we deny women from opportunities where they will thrive, humanity collectively holds itself back from the world of wondrous scientific advancements. It’s unthinkable the amount of discoveries that could have been made if women were properly supported and respected as fellow scientists from the beginning.
Moving forward, there should be a more preeminent celebration of women in STEM to reassure girls around the world that they are just as capable as their male peers. Doing so could steadily create a balance where both women and men can coexist and work together without preconceived bias. Who knows where we would be without the help of the most groundbreaking women scientists.
Alma Tovar
Features Editor
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