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Aditi Patil, Founder of XX Coders, on Discrimination in STEM
Aditi Patil explains some of the issues minorities and women face in STEM-related fields.
As a member of the STEM community, I take great pride in my work and the work of my fellow colleagues. STEM is quickly growing and is becoming one of the most in-demand industries in the world. And yet, with all positives, there are bound to be some negatives. Unfortunately, according to a recent report from CNet.com, half of the women who work in STEM fields are discriminated against.
The report cites a new survey from Pew Research Center. In the survey, almost 5,000 adults, with 2,344 involved in STEM, were questioned. And while gender discrimination is nothing new and is not specific to STEM, it would appear as though the situation is far worse in STEM, compared to other fields. The survey found that 50% of women in STEM are discriminated against or harassed, compared to 41% in non-STEM careers. Another 36% of women found harassment as a major problem in the industry.To make matters worse, women are not the only ones to be discriminated against in STEM. The survey also found that minorities are heavily discriminated against, particularly in STEM. In fact, Pew’s survey found that the number of African-Americans and Hispanics in STEM fields is far lower than in other, non-STEM fields, with African-Americans receiving the most amount (62% versus 42% of Hispanics).
It’s very obvious that there is a glaring problem with diversity in STEM. This is precisely why I started XX Coders, an educational program that helps teach young women about the power of computer science. Hopefully, my program helps create a sense of community for women, as well as creates a new generation of STEM leaders.
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It’s important to continue to fight for diversity in STEM, on all levels. I am confident that if we press forward, we will begin to see the change that we so desperately need.
About Aditi Patil
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Aditi Patil is an exceptionally talented student studying the field of STEM. An accomplished and active high school student, Aditi Patil is a member of a variety of clubs and organizations at her high school, including Amnesty International and the Academic Team. Aditi Patil will be attending Columbia University next fall and is officially a member of the Columbia Class of 2022.
