Assemblywoman Ling Ling Chang (R-Diamond Bar) announced the State Assembly passed Assembly Concurrent Resolution 17, which will designate April 5th-11th as Women and Girls in STEM Week. STEM, which includes studies within the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, is underrepresented by women and girls.
“The good news is women in STEM careers earn a third more than those in non-STEM occupations. STEM can literally be a life-raft to pull women and girls out of poverty and into the middle-class,” said Assemblywoman Chang. “The unfortunate news is that women are underrepresented in these critical fields by pretty dramatic numbers.”
California has large gender disparities in the STEM fields – especially in computer science and engineering. Only 15 percent of California engineering graduates are women and the workforce mirrors these numbers. ACR 17 will call attention this issue and call on all Californians and community organizations to encourage and celebrate women in the STEM fields, as well as support girls participating in STEM education.
Despite disparities, there are many California female leaders who represent the STEM community and serve as role models for young girls preparing for STEM careers. History is full of women who excelled in the STEM disciplines such as Grace Murray Hopper, a pioneer in her field and credited for inventing the first computer language compiler. ACR 17 also seeks to celebrate the accomplishments of current, as well as historical female leaders in STEM.
“The number of STEM jobs in California will grow by 19 percent over the next decade,” said Chang. “Any strategy to promote STEM needs women’s strategy that encourages young girls at every step along the path to employment in the STEM fields.”
Prior to serving in the State Assembly, Chang was the President & CEO of the Youth Science Center, a non-profit science education organization that focuses on STEM education.
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