The historical debt that exists with women in labor and salary equality, and in strategic positions within organizations, has the opportunity to be closed with the help of two valuable instruments: education and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics ( STEM, for its acronym in English).
The path is not easy, the gap is enormous, but if the opportunity is achieved for a woman, it is worth the effort, says the president and founder of the STEM Movement, Graciela Rojas Montemayor, in an interview with Expansión.
“Grace”, who has been recognized for promoting scientific thinking for more than 20 years as a path to sustainable development and social welfare, recognizes the great challenge that it means to bring down a problem entrenched for decades; however, she is optimistic, because she knows that education is a tool for empowerment and life transformation.
After participating in the Initiative event in favor of the inclusion of Mexican adolescents and young women in STEM, which took place at the Ministry of Economy, Rojas Montemayor highlights the importance of involving all possible actors in this movement.
“Education is not going to be given away with the SEP or with the union. It is a topic for everyone, for NGOs, civil society, universities. We have to promote it and so together we can make a high-impact change.
gap to bridge
During her participation in the event, Graciela Rojas put on the table data that show the problem and lag of gender inequality in the social and labor spheres.
According to the World Economic Forum (WEF), it takes 132 years to achieve gender parity, while the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) reports that the 10 lowest-paid activities in Mexico are occupied by 64% of women.
That is why it is important to see STEM careers as an instrument and a strategy for empowerment and protection.
“We cannot leave 50% of the planet’s population out of this discussion. It is necessary to involve women and men so that we face the future”.
Initiative as public policy
At the opening of the event, the head of the Ministry of Economy, Tatiana Clouthier Carrillo, highlighted the relevance of turning the STEM Movement initiative into a public policy that promotes the country’s development, but particularly closes gender gaps.
“I am convinced that the only way to end the gender gap and violence against women is through education and what better way than through science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“That is why it is essential that now that we are living in a digitalized economy and industry, women study careers related to STEM areas, to access better working conditions and close existing gaps and promote inclusive and sustainable economic development” .
Clouthier Carrillo explained that in order to achieve equality in salaries and in positions related to decision-making, it is key to promote women to perform in strategic positions.
Inegi data show that only 39% of working women over 25 years of age hold managerial positions in the public and private sectors.
For the head of Economy, the problem is not only the low participation of women in decision-making positions, but also that it is not understood that the economic results of companies are better when they have more positions.
“It is necessary to promote women. The data shows that the gap exists, but that we must work to reduce it”.
The Undersecretary of Higher Education of the SEP, Luciano Concheiro Bórquez, agreed that STEM careers represent a radical transformation that occurs at a fundamental juncture worldwide and in Mexico.
He called on the technological and polytechnic universities to make a greater effort, because that is where there is still a significant deficit in terms of equity.
The CEO of Siemens in Mexico, Alejandro Preinfalk, said that, according to the McKinsey Global Institute, if women had the same presence as men in the labor market, world GDP could add up to 28 trillion dollars.
“Investing in equitable training of people would allow us to move to a successful 4.0 economy.”
