Unlocking balance, brilliance in the STEM fields Ensuring more
opportunities for women in STEM careers is essential. Karen
Purcell, PE Women who choose to follow careers in science,
technology, engineering, and math (STEM) disciplines face unique
and frustrating challenges. Even after we establish ourselves in
our careers, we continue to encounter potential career-ending
traps. Not only do women in STEM careers have higher attrition
rates than do their male counterparts—especially within the
first 10 years on the job—we also have higher attrition rates
than women in other career fields. The general belief that men
outperform women in STEM fields is one of the reasons for the
high attrition rate. Other reasons include cognitive gender
differences, a woman’s lack of interest in the STEM fields,
work-life balance issues, and bias. This is an important reality
to acknowledge and correct; otherwise, we will never level the
playing field. Ensuring more opportunity for women in STEM
careers is essential to helping o