Strategies to reduce the STEM women's gap in Colombia: A comprehensive approach from training to employment

Resumen

This document addresses the persistent inequality of women in training and employment within STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields in Colombia. Despite advancements in gender equality, cultural stereotypes associating these disciplines with men and the scarcity of visible female role models limit female participation. Globally, only 33% of researchers are women, reflecting a gap in education and professional access. This situation is exacerbated by unfavorable economic and social contexts that assign caregiving roles to women, limiting their time and resources for training. In Colombia, this problem is reflected in low female representation in engineering (32% of enrollments) and among academic staff in higher education (only 40.34% are women). The document proposes a multifaceted strategy to improve this situation, spanning from early education to the labor market. This includes demystifying STEM careers through mentoring programs and interactive workshops, offering specific incentives and scholarships for women in STEM in higher education, fostering equal opportunities in academia, and implementing flexible work policies. Furthermore, the need to address the wage and employment gap is highlighted, as young women in Colombia face approximately 5 percentage points more unemployment than men. In summary, the study underscores the urgency of a cultural change that promotes the image of women as leaders and innovators in science and technology to build a more just and inclusive society.