Where are the Women? The importance of visibility in achieving inclusivity

“If she can see it, she can be it,” is the affecting catch cry of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media. But if she's not seeing it, it's almost impossible to convince a young woman that a career in STEM is even fathomable. It will come as no shock to those of us sitting inside one or more categories of marginalization, that the number of women participating in STEM is extremely low. It's not due to a lack of ability or skill, nor because women lack ambition. Women don't seek out these roles because they don't see representations of people who look like them. — STEM literacy is imperative to our success as individuals, as corporations and as nations. We need to expand the scope of talent pools we currently draw from if we seek to innovate, disrupt, inspire and quite frankly, make more money. If we shine a light on an inclusive cross-section of women, companies will have access to a wider pool of committed, hard-working and creative teammates. This boosts work culture, innovation and output - improving the bottom line. While visibility can't change systemic marginalization overnight, it will chip away at the sometimes-hostile work environments women face. — Women's heightened visibility in film and television creates greater participation in the real world. In 2012, archery participation saw a dramatic surge across the US after the release of The Hunger Games, with the New York Times reporting that Katniss Everdeen was “the major cause of waiting lists for archery lessons from coast to coast.” This year, 21st Century Fox, The Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, and J. Walter Thompson Intelligence, completed a study examining ‘The Scully Effect’, about Dana Scully of The X-Files. They researched the effect the character had in motivating women to work in STEM fields. Of the women surveyed, “63% say Scully increased their confidence that they could excel in a male-dominated profession.” — Through examination of statistical analysis and the application of research and theory, I will analyze industry leaders who are creating diverse and inclusive workforces in aerospace and computing, and the positive effects of this change. Alongside this, I will also offer compelling tales of lived experience where women's visibility has directly impacted lives for the better — providing empowering takeaways and actionable suggestions for change.

Published

2018-10

Content type

Original Research

Keywords

STEM, Visibility, Women, Inclusion, Diversity, Gender, Equality, Representation, Minority

DOI

10.5594/M001840

ISBN

978-1-61482-960-7