Fundación Telefónica and Ariel have published the book ¿Por qué no hay más mujeres STEM? Se buscan ingenieras, físicas y tecnólogas (Why aren’t there more women in STEM? Female engineers, physical scientists and technologists are wanted), coordinated by Milagros Sáinz. The publication summarizes the results of a study on the factors that could explain a greater or lesser presence of women in STEM. It is freely available and downloadable in this link.

The study is part of a research project funded by Fundación Telefónica, and based in three levels of analysis: a quantitative study of the gender biases around STEM occupations in a sample of four hundred and ten high school students, eleven in-depth interviews to university students in technological and non-technological STEM disciplines, and sixteen in-depth interviews to young professionals also in both technological and non-technological STEM areas, such as computer engineering, telecommunications engineering, mathematics, architecture, biology, medicine, pharmacy, chemistry and physics.

The research addresses young people’s perceptions about STEM disciplines and people working in these areas, the importance of achieving personal versus community goals in their professional aspirations, the reasons for choosing STEM studies and occupations, or the difficulties they perceive in the access and progression of women in STEM careers. Finally, the publication suggests diverse key recommendations addressed to the educational, private and public sectors to inspire a social change and counteract the negative effects of gender stereotypes and inequalities in the study choices and vocational segregation of women and men.

Watch the talk organized in Espai Fundación Felefónica on the occasion of the book launch.