Women comprise almost half of all law school graduates, according to the American Bar Association. And the American Medical Association reports that women make up more than 40 percent of medical school students. Women even make up almost 50 percent of the graduate students in the biological sciences. Yet the percentage of women Ph.D.s in engineering is a mere 12 percent, finds the American Association of Engineering Societies. Clearly, there are differences not only between the social sciences and hard sciences, but among the life and physical sciences as well.
Women have difficulties with self-esteem and gender discrimination.
Teachers teach like they have been taught, not like they have been taught to teach. And because most elementary school teachers are women, the cycle is tough to break. During the March 10 hearing, several Members of Congress shared examples of their own daughters discouraged from taking advanced math and science classes, or intentionally staying away from the fields because of loss of self-esteem. Girls need exposure to different career opportunities. Women lack mentors and role models.