We have also put out suggestions on how these obstacles can be surmounted. The paper ended by drawing attention to the challenges in national development and how the women can help. The general obstacles to women engaging in, and pursuing careers in STM could be summarized as due to the factors of traditions and cultural norms, attitudes and prejudices, Religion, Poverty and Ignorance. The subordination of women is deeply ingrained in the consciousness of both men and women and is usually regarded as a natural consequence of the biological differences between them. This is reinforced through cultural practices, religious beliefs and the educational system which accord lower status to women.
Social norms regard careers in scientific and technological fields as a male prerogative.
With this social conditioning and attitudes, girls are generally not encouraged to aspire for scientific careers. This is helped by family pressures from parents who want shorter training periods for their daughters to enable them get married. Looking at women scientists, especially married ones, their main problem seem to be that of restricted physical mobility. Inability to participate in professional activities which are often held outside their locality may lead to slow personal development in their chosen career. These women have problems trying to balance domestic management and the practice of scientific work.