There is no doubt about the catastrophic results of the scarce representation of women in science. Some approved drugs have been withdrawn from the market after observing in women, side effects that had not been studied as the clinical trials were not gender-balanced. The same thing has happened in studies of symptoms associated with such serious diseases as cancer, making diagnosis easier in the case of men and complicating its detection in women. These biases also translate to the field of technology: in 2019, Volvo admitted that women had a higher risk of suffering injury in a car accident because crash tests were carried out using male-anatomy dummies. This caused an increase in the likelihood of women suffering from whiplash and injuries to the chest. In response, Volvo launched the E.V.A. initiative, to design vehicles ensuring safety for all.

Most of these errors could have been avoided if the work teams had had a better gender balance. However, this situation still persists, especially the closer we get to the engineering professions. Why are women so underrepresented in the fields of science and technology? The answer lies in girls.

Right from an early age, girls are impregnated with anachronistic stereotypes that associate scientific and technological professions with the male gender.

Right from an early age, girls are impregnated with anachronistic stereotypes that associate scientific and technological professions with the male gender. This, coupled with the lack of female benchmarks, means they reach adolescence with little interest in studying in these fields (women account for less than 30% of students pursuing scientific and technological studies).

Fortunately, there are numerous initiatives to combat this situation, extending the range of possibilities offered to young people, so they can choose their future freely and without prejudices. Some such initiatives, aligned with several of the United Nations’ 17 sustainable development goals, are becoming veritable agents of change.

Over 2,000 students from 5 different countries have already created more than 650 public websites of professional women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). This is thanks to the Wisibilízalas initiative which, since 2016 has worked not only to generate female benchmarks among young women and the general public, but allows primary and secondary school students to acquire digital skills, learn to work in groups and develop their research capacity and their creativity. Inspira STEAM visits schools throughout Spain to work in the classroom on issues related to this lack of scientific vocation. The recent initiative #NoMoreMatildas, which has enjoyed much media coverage, invites reflection on what might have happened if Einstein had been born female and denounces the invisibility (known as the "Matilda Effect") that many brilliant female scientists have suffered throughout history. This initiative aims to cast light on these women, taking them into textbooks through an insert that any parent or teacher can download free of charge from the website.

It is equally as important to transform the family environment as it is to transform education. It is important that families should provide girls with an education that does not perpetuate gender stereotypes. 

It is equally as important to transform the family environment as it is to transform education. It is important that families should provide girls with an education that does not perpetuate gender stereotypes. In this regard, #GirlsGonna not only provides teaching materials for students and teachers, but also offers training and resources for families.

Here, speak about schools and family, but in the midst of the digital revolution new players have come on the scene with the potential to influence young people: influencers, including bloggers, YouTubers, Instragrammers and others. Few media have such a broad-based audience as these recent content producers, among whom it is unfortunately very difficult to find someone who is dedicated to rigorously disseminating science while appealing to their audience. We must make use of these channels more wisely because it is clear that society needs fewer #influencers and more #sciencefluencers. Meanwhile, let’s continue to celebrate #11F.