<
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/28/female-scientists-absent-australian-textbooks>
"Female scientists are almost entirely omitted from Australian curriculum, a
new study has found, with researchers warning the “alarming” lack of
representation could be contributing to the gender gap in the field of Stem.
The study, published in the
Australian Journal of Education on Monday,
analysed the curriculum of the four year 11 and year 12 Stem subjects taught in
Australian schools – biology, chemistry, physics and environmental science.
It found only one female scientist, British chemist Rosalind Franklin, was
named in high school curriculums in Queensland, South Australia and the
Northern Territory.
All remaining states and territories failed to mention a single contribution of
a woman in Stem, instead focusing coursework exclusively on a male-centric
narrative.
Lead researcher Dr Kat Ross from Curtin University said the lack of female
representation in science curriculums across the country was both “alarming”
and “inaccurate”.
“This focus on a sole male genius is common throughout the Australian national
syllabus,” she said.
“We know participation rates of girls in Stem are low compared to boys, and
this gender gap in the science heroes they learn about at school is likely a
contributing factor.”
Women make up just 37% of enrolments in university Stem courses, and 17% of VET
Stem enrolments.
Only 15% of Stem-qualified jobs are held by women, whereas women make up close
to 50% of the broader workforce. At a managerial level, only 8% of chief
executives in Stem-qualified industries are women.
The most recent data, released in 2022, found the gap between women’s and men’s
pay in Stem industries was $27,012, or 17%."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
