How to Attract Women

82% of girls think they're smart enough to work in STEM fields, but only 13% want to.

 One reason cited is that women have to work harder than men to get the same recognition.  Who wants to work harder to have a job that still pays you less than your male colleagues?  (No, that isn’t just a myth, even in the forward-thinking STEM fields.)

 Many of the engineers I know complain about the lack of women who want to work with them.  And I have to ask them:  What are you doing to make your workplace more welcoming to women who do choose to work there?

From what I read and what I hear, women are studying these fields at equal (if not higher) levels than men.  Some are disenfranchised in their studies – not from the coursework but from the culture of teachers and male peers.  The women face harassment (both sexual and intellectual/emotional, as they are questioned about their motives and abilities).  Others become disengaged during their internships or early work experiences.  They find themselves surrounded by a male-dominated workforce and a pervasive culture that leaves them feeling excluded.

How are you creating an environment where women want to work?  Could you provide a buddy system where you pair new hires up with experienced employees (to help them learn the ropes and navigate the social circles)?  Are you implicitly condoning a culture that allows harassment or encourages belittlement?  Do you have hazing rituals that might be inappropriate?  (Are you sure you don’t?)