State Fair of Texas 2023 SFOT RH

Opportunities exist in STEM jobs say female professionals

by | May 5, 2021 | Latest

Girls seem to lose interest in science and math and STEM jobs (science, technology, en­gineering and math) at some point in the academic careers, research shows.

Michelle Foley theorized why she thinks this develop­ment occurs.

“I think maybe it’s not fun to be smart – I don’t know what the deal is,” said Foley, a cyber security program manager who works at Microsoft and lives in Murphy and has been working at home for about five years. “Is it the role models? Is it they’re afraid to fail? I’m not sure what it is, but it is something (caus­ing a decline in interest).”

She started at Microsoft as a contractor in 1999 and then became full-time employee the next year.

Foley became interested in a STEM career because she always had an interest in math and science, which she had a talent for.

“The science I learned al­ways made me good at trouble shooting, so IT was not a big stretch,” she said.

STEM jobs are in demand now and for the foreseeable fu­ture. Newly released U.S. Cen­sus information reports women make up just 27% of STEM workers and 48% of the over­all workforce. Various research shows girls’ lack of interest in STEM fields can stem from many factors, such as a lack of role models in the field to peer pressure to societal pressure and social bias.

For the full story, see the May 5 issue or subscribe online.

By Don Munsch[email protected]

WEDC Gift Guide jpeg

0 Comments

Order photos

Related News

Pirates jump on N. Garland early

Pirates jump on N. Garland early

Wylie Pirates (3-1, 2-0 District 9-6A) return from the bye week to win their first road game of the season against the North Garland Raiders (1-4, 1-2). The final score was 35-25 at Williams Stadium in Garland. The Pirates finished with 355 total yards including 284...

read more
Raiders struggle against Sachse defense

Raiders struggle against Sachse defense

Sachse’s defense was suffocating all night in the Mustangs’ 20-7 district victory over the Wylie East Raiders on Friday night from Wylie ISD Stadium. The Mustangs (3-2, 3-0 District 9-6A) held the Raiders (3-1, 1-1) off the board until the third quarter. Sachse scored...

read more
Council honors longtime WEDC member

Council honors longtime WEDC member

Mayor Matthew Porter and Linda Ferguson honor Constitution Week at council on Tuesday, Sept. 12. Jeremy Hallock/Wylie News A decades-long Wylie resident who played a key role in the city’s expansion and growth was honored at the council meeting last week.  John...

read more
New ammo for fentanyl battle

New ammo for fentanyl battle

Authorities say counterfeit fentanyl is often disguised in an assortment of rainbow colors resembling candy. Courtesy DEA Fentanyl poisoning continues to claim a growing percentage of drug deaths in the state, according to the Texas Health Data dashboard published...

read more
Dry times ahead as drought worsens

Dry times ahead as drought worsens

Drought, generally defined as an absence of water caused by insufficient precipitation over a period of time, is as old as the Bible. “Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me,” said Jacob as he described his hardships as a shepherd (King James Version, Genesis...

read more
Take the fall

Take the fall

One of my most vivid memories of fall happened during junior high. I was standing in the end zone prior to the start of a game. I could barely feel my fingers and toes. It was October, but it was unusually cold (Al Gore had yet to invent global warming). My shoulder...

read more
Wylie East dismantles Naaman Forest

Wylie East dismantles Naaman Forest

Howard Fisher IV dives for a touchdown during the Raiders win over the Naaman Forest Rangers on Thursday, Sept. 14. GARLAND – Wylie East opened District 9-6A about as well as a team could hope to, convincingly beating Naaman Forest 58-14 on Thursday, Sept. 14 at...

read more
Council honors a local legend

Council honors a local legend

Council honors John Yeager on Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. The public access easement within the FM 544 Gateway Addition is designated as John Yeager Way. Jeremy Hallock/The Wylie News John Yeager, a Wylie resident for more than half a century, was honored at the Sept. 12...

read more
NTMWD 2023