She Belongs in the Lab

What It’s Really Like to Be a Woman in STEM as a Hanze Engineering Student

How to know if STEM is for you

Choosing any branch of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) as a career can be either the best decision that you'll make or your worst nightmare. It is no lie that the STEM world is a male-dominated field, where women represent 26% of the workforce. To give you a clear example, in my engineering class there are 90 students in total, we are five girls. Choosing a career in STEM does not only come with the effort that you will need to put into passing the course, but there is a social aspect to it that needs to be considered too. I can only talk from my experience, and for me the easiest decision that I’ve ever made was to be part of this world. Regardless of the environment that I would eventually find myself in. Women might feel pressure or have doubts about joining STEM, but when there is a true passion for discovery, it's easier to cancel out the negative side that one might encounter and focus on what is truly important. However, if you are not sure if a career in STEM is for you, there are certain points that could give you a clear idea on which road to take. There isn't a truly right answer, but the way you think about these concepts will shape the way that you navigate the world of STEM. 

• Number 1: Are you truly interested and passionate about the topic? Or do you like math and it's what “makes sense”?  
• Number 2: Do you care enough to overcome uncomfortable situations and people that might not have the same views as you?  
• Number 3: What are you doing it for? Money, Passion, Recognition? 

These questions are not to make you feel uncomfortable, or to make you feel worried about how it might affect your experience as a STEM student. They are true concepts that you will eventually face. If you are not truly interested in the topic that you choose, it will become your worst enemy. It will be hell to study, and it will truly affect your will to continue. Uncomfortable situations happen everywhere, it’s just that in STEM they tend to be more gender-related than in other disciplines. You will learn how to deal with these situations sooner rather than later, and trust me, there is always support if needed. Finally, the reason why you are doing this is one of the most important ones. It is not that doing something for money is wrong, it’s just that the money may take some time to come. When that happens, you need more than that to keep you focused. Overall, reflecting upon your concepts and visualization of your future will guide you through making a decision.  

You might end up knowing more about the Champions League than you anticipated, but eventually you will even willingly become part of those conversations. I can say that it has been a pleasure to work with, most, of my classmates. However, as there is everywhere, there will always be people that want to put you down, for whatever reason. It’s important that you keep your head up and ignore what the rest of the people have to say. If you decide that STEM is what you want, don't be afraid of the social aspects of it. Believe me, I was and I had nothing to worry about. There is kindness if you know where to look, and I can assure you that a bad time doesn't last forever.  

3 Tips & Tricks to survive your first years as a Woman in STEM 

1. Don't take everything personally 

People will always have something to say about anything and everything, and eventually the target of those comments will be you. As a girl, those comments tend to be gender-based. Don't take them personally, those comments talk more about the person saying them than what they mean to you.  

2. Pick and choose your battles 

There are battles that are worth fighting, and other ones that do better by ignoring them. You will not be able to fight on all fronts, so it's very important that you know what is truly important to speak up about, and what can just be ignored. When dealing with gender discrimination, it is important that you are 100% sure that’s what is happening. Those accusations are no joke, and they can really affect you as much as the other person.  

3. Stand your ground 

Overall, you need to know who you are, and what you want to achieve. Don't let anyone discourage you and try to stand for yourself before you take any further steps. When dealing with guys that might start to be a pain, giving them boundaries yourself tends to be a lot more effective than going to third parties to resolve the issue.  

Be the change STEM needs

Sometimes the criticism and the negativity come from where you least expect it. A friend with whom things didn't end well, or a random person who you have never crossed words with. This is not new, and it will happen to absolutely everyone. It is important that you understand who you are and what you are capable of doing. STEM is a place that could do with a bit more humanity and kindness, and a bit less hostility and jealousy. As the years go by, you'll find that it gets easier to fall to the dark side and participate in these types of behaviours. However, it’s how you plant yourself against them that will tell people the kind of person that you are, and will attract the community that you want to be part of. But for this to happen, it has to start with you.  

After a year of electronic engineering I started to lose the focus and the passion that I had had all those years ago. I started to think like the adults in my life. A stable career in a multimillion-dollar engineering corporation, doing what I have never been passionate about. It took me two more years to find my way back to the passion that my little self of 5 years found all that time ago. I had made a decision. I didn't know how, but I would find my way back to the world of scientific research. After a Google search and some sent emails, I managed to achieve what I spent my life dreaming of. Today I’m writing this paragraph from my tiny room in Spain, after my very first day working as a researcher in an experimental particle physics group. I can say that it took all the hard work in the world, but what really got me here was determination and trust in myself. I am sure that whoever you are and wherever your passions stand, you are bigger than what the world tells us to be.