The Oscar-winning film, “Oppenheimer,” that recently won Best Picture, has stirred national interest in the STEM career of J. Robert Oppenheimer, the nuclear physicist who is called the “father of the atomic bomb” as well as the father in the field of physics.

With a predominantly male cast, in the film set in the 1940s, the closest a woman gets to sharing in scientific work and notoriety is his wife, Kitty, a traditional non-working spouse. Lisa Meitner, a prominent German nuclear Scientist, was asked to work on the project and she refused.

The gender gap in the STEM and tech fields is not new, and new research shows the gap persists, despite enormous efforts to invite more women and girls into these careers.

“The #gendergap in the #STEM and tech fields is not new, and new research shows the gap persists, despite enormous efforts to invite more women and girls into these careers. ”

A new study out of the University of Georgia, the first to “examine the number of women in STEM jobs in all 15 cabinet-level U.S. departments, as well as NASA and the Environmental Protection Agency between 2005 and 2018,” shows a dismal improvement.

Women in government STEM jobs, including those in the Air Force, Army, Navy, the energy and transportation departments, departments of Veterans Affairs, State, Interior, Homeland Security, Defense and Commerce, in 13 years increased from 25.33% to 25.63%.

A new study from Zippia shows that despite a boom in available jobs in computing, mathematics and IT, women hold only 28% of those jobs. Asian and Pacific Islander women hold 7% of those jobs; Black women hold 3% and Latina women hold just 2%, reports Live Now.

“A new study from @ZippiaInc shows that despite a boom in available jobs in computing, mathematics and IT, women hold only 28% of those jobs. #womeninSTEM”

The growth in STEM jobs is confirmed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics that reports, “STEM occupations have grown 79% over the past three decades and are projected to increase another 11% by 2030.”

And yet, there is stagnation of hiring and promotion for women in these roles.

A 2022 report from McKinsey found in tech positions 52 women are promoted for every 100 men.

“A 2022 report from @McKinsey found in tech positions 52 women are promoted for every 100 men. #womenintech #gendergap”

The likelihood of women being outnumbered by men with a ratio as high as 5 to 1, creates “unconscious gender bias in company culture,” leaving many women “without a clear path forward,” according to a report from TrustRadius.

Accenture also reports that the number of women in STEM and tech roles has been declining for 35 years, due to a lack of inclusivity for women, as many drop out of STEM and tech roles by the time they are 35. That is, if they pursue careers past college.

The report also shows that 67% of BIPOC and LGBTQ+ women say they saw a path from college to a career in tech, while 79% of other women say the same.

Recent research published in Nature confirms this, stating, “Environmental factors such as gendered stereotypes, cultural norms, dynamic information and academic climates have been demonstrated to be the reasons why women are underrepresented in STEM or STEM-related disciplines.”

The trends of an historic and ongoing gender gap in promotion and support have transferred to discouraging Generation Z members identifying as women from even being interested in STEM jobs.

“@Accenture also reports that the number of women in #STEM and tech roles has been declining for 35 years, due to a lack of #inclusivity for women.”

The Gallup and Walton Family Foundation Voices of Gen Z survey shows that 85% of males born between 1997 and 2011 say they are interested in careers in “physical science, technology, engineering, and math, compared with 63% of females.”

The females attribute that lack of learning about STEM fields in middle school and high school. The poll shows, ”There are especially large gaps in exposure to computer science and physics concepts. Fifty-four percent of males report learning in school about computer programming/coding—skills that underlie roles in fields as diverse as technology, manufacturing and cybersecurity—compared with 39% of females.”

This is in spite of many local, national and global efforts to shift that trend.

Both the United Nations and UNESCO are pushing to encourage more women and girls into science careers. On UNESCO’s recent 2024 International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the organization called to close the global gender gap in the field of science.

“Both the @UN and @UNESCO are pushing to encourage more women and girls into #science careers. #inclusivity”

In the U.S., the Smithsonian Institution has a mission of encouraging elementary school children to engage in the sciences with the Elementary Science Education: The Next Generation Project.

On the state level, Innovate Illinois recently announced two new projects under the U.S Economic Development Administration’s Tech Hubs Program. This effort from The Bloch concerns quantum information science and technology research.

The program will award Implementation Grants to ”fuel regional growth through initiatives like workforce development, business incubation, technology advancement, and infrastructure enhancement. Each Tech Hub stands to receive $40 to $70 million,” according to Innovate Illinois.

“The collaboration between Illinois’ industry powerhouses and the state’s academic leaders through Innovate Illinois is a model for transformational progress,” said UL Solutions President and CEO and Innovate Illinois Co-Vice-Chair Jennifer Scanlon.

“Together, we're not just developing technology—we're cultivating an ecosystem that will carry Illinois and the entire nation forward in the competitive global market. This is where ingenuity meets opportunity, fostering advancements that will resonate across industries and borders,” Scanlon said.

Perhaps the U.S. can learn from its European counterparts. A new study from Surfshark “found that women dominate science and tech sectors in most of the EU.”

“Perhaps the U.S. can learn from its European counterparts. A new study from @Surfshark “found that women dominate science and tech sectors in most of the EU.” #genderparity”

”Women are not only integral to the tech sector; they are propelling it forward in many European Union countries. This systematic effort to support and elevate women in our field is creating an equitable, dynamic, and thriving environment for all professionals. It drives innovation and leads to superior outcomes, including enhanced innovation and creativity, improved decision-making, better problem-solving, and even increased financial performance," says Beatrice Leikaite, Head of Human Resources at Surfshark.

The study found that in 2022, in more than three-quarters of EU countries, over half of the professionals in science and technology sectors were women, reaching a total of 40 million.

Back in the U.S., a 2023 study from Commercial Café found the top 10 cities for women in STEM careers. Three out of the top five are in California. New York City was number one, with Seattle coming in second. San Jose, San Francisco and Fremont, California filled out the top five.

Of course, there are stellar examples of women leading and innovating in the STEM fields. Leila Jaafar, CEO and founder of NUCLIDIUM, works in nuclear engineering, decades after the dawn of the nuclear age in this country as demonstrated in “Oppenheimer.”

In a recent interview, Jaafar said women succeed in this field for specific reasons.

“Our capacity to alternate between detailed and holistic perspectives renders us versatile. This blend of broad awareness and meticulous attention to detail proves invaluable in various contexts, particularly in strategic decision-making.”

She added, “From my perspective, the unique challenges women face in the workplace often lead us to adopt a much more thorough approach to our assignments.”

““From my perspective, the unique challenges #women face in the #workplace often lead us to adopt a much more thorough approach to our assignments.” —Leila Jaafar, CEO, founder, NUCLIDIUM ”

Leadership Takeaway of The Week:

“From my perspective, the unique challenges women face in the workplace often lead us to adopt a much more thorough approach to our assignments.” —Leila Jaafar, CEO and Founder, NUCLIDIUM

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About the Author

Michele Weldon is editorial director of Take The Lead, an award-winning author, journalist, emerita faculty in journalism at Northwestern University and a senior leader with The OpEd Project. @micheleweldon www.micheleweldon.com