This short slide presentation was prepared for a short "lightning talk" at the Rails Girls Galway workshop, 21st June 2014. The presentation explores the reasons for the under-representation of women in STEM and some of the initiatives which have been tried to redress this gender imbalance. The presentation concludes by advocating a holistic approach including not just initiatives to support and advocate for girls and women, but initiatives to change IT and STEM culture -- in schools, universities, labs, community & maker spaces, and workplaces.

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