It's a current issue, how the future of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing/Mathematics (depending on your country)) relies on attracting more women into these fields. There's been a lot of coverage in the news about the lack of support girls are offered in STEM subjects during their education. But why, if these industries have managed perfectly well as male-dominated entireties, are we so hell-bent on pushing females into their roles?
Equality is one thing, but if we're insisting women work in STEM just to fill gender diversity quotas, isn't it detrimental to already-fragile industries shakily coming out of recession?
One of the main reasons - as there are a few - that women need to be better represented in STEM is the fact that they're gaining market share as consumers. Women have more spending power than ever before, and advertisers and marketers are fast cottoning on to the fact that they have to increasingly appeal to women for sales of their products and services.
And if women are buying more things, and using more things, it stands to reason that any company would want more women making things – because only another woman can understand what a female consumer wants and needs: the whole 'Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus' argument. An all-male creative board can surely only assume the thoughts and desires of women.
That women have more spending power is, in part, due to pay being more equal than in previous years or generations. According to Adrian Kearsey, equity analyst at Hardman & Co, "Recent research shows that female and male pay, for full-time workers under the age of 40, is now broadly at parity".
Though the glass ceiling still appears to exist – Adrian states women account for only 20.7% of FTSE100 board positions – it is an improvement. Quotas are not necessarily good news; arguably, determining the best match for a position shouldn't even bring gender into account, unless the industry/role demands it. That said, if women are heading towards being the dominant spending force, not only should they be an influence at ground level, but also in the boardrooms too – if only for good business strategy and objective input regarding a company's approach to its market.
It follows that if women are to be encouraged to take on roles usually taken up by men we need enthusiastic, open minded recruiters. The job market is heavily influenced by the habits of consumers – if these are forecast to be predominantly made up of women, surely, so must the workforce.
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