Topic #10: Recognizing the true

Equality for all is one of the major building blocks on which the United States was built upon. Allowing anyone no matter the color of their skin, their background, gender, etc. to do anything anyone else can do. Somehow, though, this proud symbol of our country is be smeared by the fact of racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination that are still rampant throughout the country.

Sexism is still preventing women from accomplishing or being a part of many aspects in the country, especially in the STEM(science,technology,engineering,and math) fields. Not everyone believes this is lack of women in these major fields is due to sexism. In a article by Anne Ju, she points out that  Stephen J. Ceci, the H.L. Carr Professor of Developmental Psychology, and Wendy M. Williams, professor of human development and director of the Cornell Institute for Women in Science, both believe that "It's not discrimination in these areas, but rather, differences in resources attributable to career and family-related choices that set women back in STEM"(Ju). 

This is is startling to hear. Even after what has been done to give women rights over the decades, there are still many problems women are having to finally get equal rights. What Wendy M. Williams and Stephen J. Ceci is far from the complete truth. Sure it is valid to say some women are deprived of jobs in STEM fields because family related choices and differences in resources attributable to careers can affect the choice of a someone going into a particular field, but they can not neglect to see that there is in fact sexism occurring in STEM related companies, especially engineering. Women are turned away from companies, believed to be unqualified. If they do manage to get a job in a STEM field, then they can expect to payed less than man doing the same job. This is sexism to the max.

 I don't care what these professors from Cornell believe. If they believe that women are responsible for preventing themselves from being in the STEM fields, then that is there mindset. I believe there logic is false and that it is just the negligence of companies to see the importance and abilities in women who are just trying to make career for themselves.

By Ethan Gaskey

Sources:

Cornell University: Choices -- not discrimination -- determine women scientists' success, researchers say

Glassdoor: Engineering Pay Gap? Glassdoor Reveals Many Women Engineers Earn Less than Men