In today’s ever-changing world there is a need for diversity in the workforce. It brings creativity and innovation as well as different perspectives on pressing issues. Yet, in classrooms all over the world there is a glaring issue: a significant gender gap in both blue collar and STEM fields. Unfortunately, these fields are dominated by one gender. 

The education system still reflects the same deep-rooted societal norms that shape the workforce; however, this is a problem many schools are working to fix. Some attempted solutions include the introduction of new programs and clubs like Women in Trade at Career Technology Center (CTC)  and the Women in STEM and Society of Women Engineers clubs at Linganore High School (LHS). 

Girls at LHS who are enrolled in male-dominated classes provided multiple reasons as to why more girls do not sign up. 

Laila Griffis, a sophomore at LHS, said “I think the ratio of girls to boys definitely scares some people away.” Feelings of isolation or disconnection from the rest of the class are driving factors behind the disproportionate number of girls to boys in blue collar and STEM courses. 

LHS junior Charlotte Burns added, “I think they might be scared, since it’s only seen as something guys can do.” This highlights how some young women may feel discouraged from pursuing their interests in these areas due to judgement. The notion that certain fields are exclusively for one gender limits girls’ opportunities and perpetuates old stereotypes, holding back their personal and academic development.

Teachers of male-dominated classes at Linganore High School, such as woodworking, principles of engineering and computer science recognize the disparities women often face and do what they can to create a welcoming atmosphere for their female students. 

Adrienne Rupinta, the woodworking teacher at Linganore High School, emphasized the importance of female empowerment. 

“They [girls in my class] may be left out or judged, but I will teach them to hold their own,” Ruptina said. As a woman in a male-dominated profession, she has firsthand experience in being judged. She works to be a strong role model for young girls interested in pursuing these careers. 

The ratio of female to male students in these male-dominated fields is very significant. According to an article by Changeincontent.com, , The ratio of men to women in blue-collar jobs and businesses is currently 12:1. This means that for every 12 men in a position, there is only one woman. 

Gerald Kirk, the computer science and IED teacher at Linganore, discussed the impact this has on high school STEM classes like those he teaches.

“On the high end, [the number of girls in] IED usually starts out at 25%, and then you can continue on,” Kirk said. ‘There’s three other engineering STEM classes here at the school. It drops close to 15% after that.”  he added. 

Rex Riley, the Principles of Engineering teacher at Linganore, saw fewer female students enrolled in his classes, approximately 10%, while Rupinta reported one in five students were female.  

These three teachers shared opinions on how to get more females to join these classes. 

“I’ve tried hard [to recruit female students for these classes],” Kirk said. “I focus a lot more on the design … and we can still do plenty of drawing and stuff, so I just try and make the projects more fun, more interesting.” 

Riley shared that one of his strategies is to have students join the class with friends who are also interested.  

Riley said if a student is not signing up with another person,  “then [they] might be the only girl in the class … find[ing] two or three other friends that want to take it [and] signing up together is a good way of increasing that.”

Rupinta is one of the only female teachers of predominantly-male fields at Linganore. “I think having a female teacher has really helped, and me putting a little more feminine twist on the projects that come out,” Rupinta said. “I think that may draw attention for the way I’ve made it colorful here.”

The difficulty of getting more women in blue collar fields is also a reflection of the lack of benefits for women in the workplace. Women may have limited access to health insurance, paid leave, or retirement plans, leaving them more vulnerable to financial instability. Information shows only 48% of women in male-dominant fields receive standard benefits, making it the lowest percentage compared to other groups. 

In addition to lacking standard benefits, there are also many instances of sexual harassment on job sites. According to an article in The New York Times by Susan Chira, “sexual harassment is one of the reasons women leave such jobs or do not enter them in the first place.” More than 36% of women in blue collar fields have reported sexual harassment, compared to 8% of men. 

As explained by Equal Rights Advocates, Hanna Hurst, a gold miner from Alaska, described her workplace harassment as, “rougher than any she endured serving in the military in Iraq,” as men made remarks about her ovaries and passed around a cellphone with explicit images on it to make her uncomfortable. Fortunately, organizations like Project WHEN  and the National Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC) are working to combat this issue by providing information and tools to prevent and respond to sexual violence. 

Due to increased awareness and organizations like those listed above, in recent years there has been significant improvement in the acceptance and empowerment of women in male dominated fields. 

Students in the Women in STEM club at Linganore High School spoke mostly positively of their experiences thus far.

Junior Brianna Dacanay said, “Even if people are putting you down, even if it’s a lot of work and you don’t think you can do it, it’s definitely worth it in the end to keep continuing.”

Despite these clubs specifically geared towards empowering female students, students like Dacanay still face some obstacles. Dacanay said common stereotypes caused her to feel left out when working with males.

“Sometimes, I feel like the guys will try to run the entire project, and I have the less important job,” said Dacanay. 

Junior Eliza Casiean, will be the Women in STEM club president next year. She spoke highly of the club and additional programs at the Career Technology Center (CTC) that have made her feel welcome as a woman in STEM, such as the Biomedical program at CTC.

Being one of the few girls in a mostly male field is not easy; however, with the right support, these girls can thrive and possibly help change what is possible for the next generation.