Communicating as Women in STEM

Charlotte Brammer

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9780128025796
• eBook ISBN: 9780128026724
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Biology
• Index: Biological Sciences

Communicating as Women in STEM discusses various communication styles, also demonstrating how principles can be applied during interpersonal interactions in day-to-day environments. It provides women and other underrepresented groups, faculty and administrators with the tools they need to break barriers raised by different communication styles within the STEM fields. Sections cover tactics on how to become more aware of communication patterns and how to cope with, and improve, communication. This practical resource for women in the STEM fields is also ideal for mentors, educators, advisers and organizations interested in encouraging women to choose and remain in these fields.- Enables women, minorities, faculty and administrators to develop broader communication skills- Teaches constructive communication strategies for interaction with mentees, mentors, faculty, managers, colleagues and other professionals- Contains observation exercises that include questions and sample scenarios to illustrate communication strategies

Chapter 1

The Leaky Pipeline

Do We Have a (Communication) Problem?

Abstract

STEM fields currently reflect disparity between the number of males and females. The gap persists despite efforts to reduce it. This chapter posits that the gap is fed by cultural beliefs, organizational structures, and gendered interaction patterns. Such beliefs and communication practices are reinforced through language, especially metaphors and storytelling, as well as through social norms.

Keywords

Culture and communication; Gender; Gendered organizations; Gender roles; Gender in the workplace; Gender in STEM; Interaction patterns; Inclusion; Leaky pipeline; Language use; Metaphors; Nonverbal communication; STEM retention; Social norms; Storytelling; Textbook bias; Women in STEM

Contents

1. Elizabeth's Story
2. Threshing It Out

The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.

George Bernard Shaw

Because I am the only female in my department, I have to think about why I'm excluded. The men in my department go to lunch together every day. It's understood that I can barge in and go with them, but I'm not routinely asked. No one comes by my office or lab to say, ‘hey, lunch time!’

Anonymous female chemist

We have a problem attracting and retaining women in STEM fields, especially in engineering and computer science, and the key question is simply why? STEM educators and others have worked on this frequently referenced “leaky pipeline” for years, and while they have made progress, they have not eliminated the gender imbalance in either academe or the workplace. Even in biology, perceived by some interested parties as having achieved the golden ring of gender equity, differences persist. Women are less likely to pursue postdoctoral study in biology, less likely to present at professional conferences, less likely to publish, and less likely to remain in academe despite having a majority presence and important exemplars ...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• Introduction
• Chapter 1. The Leaky Pipeline: Do We Have a (Communication) Problem?
• Chapter 2. Stereotypes and Stacked Decks: Can Females Really Be Scientists and Engineers?
• Chapter 3. My Team's Better Than Your Team: How Inclusive Is Office Small Talk?
• Chapter 4. Power, Aggression, and Assertion: Who Gets to Speak?
• Chapter 5. The Power of the Suit: Dressing for Success According to Whom?
• Chapter 6. Communicating as Professionals in STEM: Some Closing Thoughts
• References
• Index