What Girls Need to Hear From STEM
In countries like the United States, it’s easy to see women in school, politics, or business and undermine the gender equality movement. But although I am not denied an education, until my junior year of high school I felt the need to prove myself and earn my place in every Honors and AP class—a burden that curtailed questions and curiosity.
It wishfully naive to believe that the end of institutionalized oppression is indicated by surface level progress. The principles that governed society for centuries have been tightly stitched into the fabrics of society, and invalidating our experiences is yet another byproduct.
By the time I learned to read, I had already played with Barbies and seen commercials on T.V. to be painfully aware of the standard of beauty. I learned that every aspect of myself—from the shape of my body to the length of my eyelashes—would be scrutinized and criticized.
I would wonder if my heels were too tall, my dress too short, my eyebrows too thick, my thighs not thick enough to be considered attractive. I was taught my appearance would be translated to reflect my principles, but this “language” was always ambiguous and subjective. My capacity to decide how my body should look, let alone what I should do, had become a treacherous guessing game of uncertainty. Acclimating to the established norm was foolhardy and safe. I was constantly holding myself to an impossible laundry list of expectations, but my inability to meet them were internalized as my own inferiority.
Women are held to an unforgivingly singular standard--we’re told things like “pretty girls can’t be smart, and smart girls can’t be pretty.” But I actualized the infinite, alternative possibilities by learning to code in Rwanda at the inaugural Women in Science Camp.
The importance of introducing STEM to young girls is rooted in its ability to break the misconceptions we are force-fed about our own identity. By prioritizing female involvement in STEM, girls can redefine and truly understand what it means to be a girl—a message that is especially relevant.
We must push for effective solutions that combat irresponsible leadership. Because our bodies cannot be reduced to fickle statements for political agendas, our voices cannot be so groundlessly silenced by Senate rules, our authority over our bodies cannot be signed away. We are more than the sum of every pound, out of place hair, and presidential declaration.
