Breaking down barriers for girls and women in STEM

Five young role models of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) from Indonesia and Ireland shared their visions, voices and aspirations. They spoke to encourage the interests of more women and girls to be involved and to be part of STEM related fields at the interactive discussion titled “Women and the Future of Work: Insights from Women in STEM”.

Jointly hosted by the ILO and the Embassy of Ireland for Indonesia in Jakarta on 7 February, the event aimed to promote greater participation of women in STEM related skills. The event was also part of the commemoration of both the International Day of Women and Girls in Science which falls on 11 February and St. Brigid’s Day 2020.

Moderated by H.E. Olivia Leslie, Ambassador of Ireland to Indonesia, the interactive discussion presented Dr Fiona Malone, a woman scientist from Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, as the main speaker. As an award-winning Biomedical Engineer, mathematics lecturer and science communicator, she emphasized the importance of innovative ways to promote issues related to women in STEM.

Innovative ways to attract more women in STEM

Empowering girls to see a future for themselves in STEM should be done in innovative ways. I have used different platforms from podcasts, blogs to media engagement and comedy."

Dr Fiona Malone, a woman scientist from Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology

“Empowering girls to see a future for themselves in STEM should be done in innovative ways. I love chatting about STEM and have used different platforms from podcasts, blogs to media engagement and comedy,” told Dr Malone before 70 participating audiences, making examples of Fame Lab and Bright Club as two venues where scientists can share their enthusiasms for science and research with the public in the forms of talkshow and stand-up comedy in Ireland.

It is a collective effort. I learnt a lot from my male mentors and supervisors. They encouraged me to grow and pursue my career and being more confident."

Silvia Halim, Director of Construction for Jakarta MRT

Meanwhile Silvia Halim, Director of Construction for Jakarta MRT, highlighted the involvement of men in the movement of women in STEM. “It is a collective effort. I learnt a lot from my male mentors and supervisors. They encouraged me to grow and pursue my career and being more confident,” said Silvia who is the only female director among other four male directors of MRT Jakarta.

The biggest barrier many women must contend with was being confident to be leaders, to speak up and/or to share opinions. Anantya von Bronckhorst, Co-CEO Think, Web, Digital and Technology Agency, shared that soft skills was as important as the technical skills for women in STEM. “Through our works, we encourage women to be more confident. Soft skills are also part of the STEM-related skills and we need to minimize the confidence gap between women and men,” she stated.

Role models for inspiration

Talking about discrimination, Clorinda Kurnia Wibowo, Research Analyst of World Resources Institute (WRI), felt lucky to work in a gender-balance environment. Her workplace has provided its employees a safe space where they can talk about sensitive issues such as sexual harassment.

STEM topics are not equally taught in school. STEM is my personal interest and I did not know that STEM could be a choice for my career. The role models can show many women and girls that they can join and stay in technology too."

Hastu Wijayasri, Wonder Koding and student at UIN Yogyakarta

“I believe in the big city like Jakarta, equal treatment and opportunity are not an issue. However, it is a different story for areas outside Java where women’s values are still linked to their traditional domestic values,” said Clorinda who is specialized in renewable energy and forestry.

To promote greater participation of women and girls in STEM, Hastu Wijayasri, Wonder Koding and student at UIN Yogyakarta, underlined the need of women role models to inspire women and girls that they could have option to work in STEM related skills and fields.

“STEM topics are not equally taught in school. STEM is my personal interest and I did not know that STEM could be a choice for my career. The role models can show many women and girls that they can join and stay in technology too,” shared Hastu, the first Indonesian developer with hearing impaired, in sign language.

As a student, she also underscored the support needed from teachers and parents for girls to be empowered and involved in STEM. “We also need to educate teachers and parents about STEM. STEM is not only for boys, but it is also girls. We have a choice as an individual,” she remarked.

The ILO’s support to women in STEM

In addition to the interactive discussion, the event introduced the ILO’s Women in STEM Programme. Santy Otto, Programme Coordinator of ILO’s Women in STEM Programme, reminded the participants about the impact of technological advancements in the forms automation and robotics to women at the workplaces.

Women are 20 percent more likely than men to losing their jobs due to automation. Therefore, the ILO has a vision for human-centred agenda focusing on investing in people’s capabilities, institution of work as well as decent and sustainable work."

Santy Otto, Programme Coordinator of ILO’s Women in STEM Programme

She quoted the ILO estimation that 56 percent of employment (about 60 million jobs) face a risk of automation in Indonesia. “Women are 20 percent more likely than men to losing their jobs due to automation. Therefore, the ILO has a vision for human-centred agenda focusing on investing in people’s capabilities, institution of work as well as decent and sustainable work,” she stated.

Funded by J.P Morgan Chase Foundation, the programme seeks to provide women with critical soft and technical skills to help women gain quality employment and support career advancement of women, particularly in the fields of information technology. One of its main objectives is to strengthen linkages between private sector firms, social partner institutions and vocational training centres to ensure greater opportunity through higher entry, retention and advancement of women workers in STEM-related positions. This will, in turn, improve productivity and prevent women from losing their jobs as a consequence of automation.