The document discusses the persistent under-representation of women in STEM fields, highlighting that only about 15% of participants are women despite decades of interventions. It emphasizes the need to change the culture of STEM to be more inclusive and to challenge existing gender stereotypes through collaborative efforts. The author calls for collective action from both women already in STEM and the broader community to foster a greater presence of girls and women in these fields.

1. More than 15%:
Girls and Women in IT & STEM
Catherine Cronin • @catherinecronin • Rails Girls Galway • 21/06/14
Image:CCBY-NC2.0catherinecronin

2. STEM
“...a pathway to be curious,
to create, to think and
figure things out.”
– Ainissa Ramirez
source: http://www.brainpickings.org/index.php/2013/02/12/saving-our-science-anissa-ramirez/

3. STEM
~15%
persistent & progressive
under-representation of women

4. STEM
85%
15%

5. STEM
85%
15%
gender role
socialisation

6. STEM
POPULAR ACTIONS
• media campaigns
• role models
• mentoring
85%
15%

7. BUT
after 30+ years of interventions
~15%
women in STEM

8. STEM
85%
15%
why only focus our efforts here?

9. STEM
85%
15%
science & technology
are socially constructed,
not neutral.

10. STEM
change STEM culture
to be more inclusive.
challenge gender stereotypes.
challenge gender stereotypes.
role models, mentoring,
networking, skill-building.

11. #WomenInvent

12. @science_grrl

13. https://twitter.com/catherinecronin/itwomen/members
#ITwomen Twitter list

14. More than 15%:
Girls and Women in IT & STEM
Image:CCBY-NC2.0catherinecronin
Coder Dojo
“To increase the proportion of girls & women in STEM, it will take more than the efforts
of 15% (women already in STEM). We all must work together to change STEM culture.”

15. Thank you!
Catherine Cronin
@catherinecronin
slideshare.net/cicronin
delicious.com/cicronin/itwomen
Image CC BY 2.0 visualpanic