Every time I walked across the lovely campus from the social science end, it was not difficult to notice the rapid decrease in the number of "native" students, especially females, in the science and engineering areas.
A shock it was to me that female students in the US did not care much to pursue science and engineering. What a contrast it was, and continues to be, to my experiences in India.
Back in the old country, girls did not shy away from science if they were capable and if they were interested in the subject. Their behavior was no different from that of the boys. My sister studied science and topped her class. A number of female classmates went on to college to study science-related fields. The two other engineering colleges in the town where I did my undergraduate studies were flooded with female students, so much so that one seemed like it was a women's college.
A shock it was, therefore, to understand that science and females don't typically go together here in the US. It continues to shock me, as a higher education insider. Yes, I am intentionally using the word "shock" over and over.
Females in science and technology in the old country became evident during the news coverage of India's success with the Mars orbiter. I posted on Facebook the following photo from the Economist, and wrote there, "the awesomest aspect of this photo related to India's mission to Mars ... The number of women scientists in this celebratory scene."
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Women scientists.
Attired in the traditional saris.
With the traditional hairstyles.
Awesome is the word for it.
What a contrast to the photo and movie scenes of NASA's control rooms, right?
Another photo, from the BBC, was even more fascinating:
Notice the flowers strung along the hair in the old, traditional way? Not only do women do science and technology, they do it even when fully immersed in the old cultures. How can one not describe this as awesome? And notice in the left corner a woman with what seems like a shirt and a blazer? Women do science and technology even as they transition out of the old cultures.
An old classmate commented on Facebook,
All in their pattu pavadai and mallipoo finery for the big occasion. Indeed, I saw tweet by a non Indian woman saying that the live feed was great because you saw so many women in the control room!(Silk saris and jasmine (mallipoo) flowers--the traditional celebratory combination. Though, we gave him a hard time for referring to the "pudavai"--sari--as "pavadai," which is a skirt!)
So, why is there such a low rate of female participation in the sciences here in the US?
If only we knew how to correct that!
But, it is not only females but also males who shy away from the sciences, even when they are capable, because, well, more than anything else, it is hard work. Much harder to get an A in physics than it is in my geography class. (Not that an easy A in geography is attracting a whole bunch of students either!)
Perhaps the behavior to avoid hard work comes with affluence. During my undergraduate years, there was a rich classmate who always came to college riding his motorbike, wearing well-tailored clothes, and with the indulgences of tobacco and alcohol too. He was a fun guy, with a sharp mind. But, he could not care about classes and exams. I doubt if he ever read anything either. Perhaps contemporary America has a whole bunch of kids like him--after all, we are one heck of an affluent country. So, why work hard!
A couple of years ago, when I reconnected with a few classmates from those college years, I inquired about that rich guy too. And was saddened to hear that his life did not turn out well--the affluence had messed him up.
At least the women in India are kicking some butts, despite the affluence they have climbed up to and despite the hard work the climb would have been. Good for them. And good for all of us.
4 comments:
I always knew you were a sucker for mallipooo and pattu pavadais (OK pudavais). Yes, Mallikaaaaa ! Although it must be difficult to fit a redhead into that :):)
"Much harder to get an A in physics than it is in my geography class". Really ???????? I am bellyaching with laughter. You stingy Prof - No doubt there is an epidemic of bellyaching amongst all your students.
Perhaps these strong, smart, capable, beautifully-attired women, obviously confident in their abilities, their positions and their identities, can inspire American girls.
For too many years, women were relegated to careers as secretaries, nurses or teachers. Men took far too long to realize the potential for women to contribute far beyond those fields. Perhaps some men were afraid of being outsmarted by a woman. That could have been enormously humiliating and emasculating.
Role models is where it's at. The outfit - whether a pattu pudavai (I got that right this time) and mallipoo or jacket - is merely visuals. These ISRO women have been that role model for countless girls and boys just like a Sally Ride was for many American women I know.
Hey, MAK, good to see you here.
(Ramesh, this is our good ol' MA Krishna)
Yes, awesome role models these scientists will be to India's girls (and boys too.) And, yes, Sally Ride was inspirational to many, but we don't seem to have enough Sally Rides to encourage girls here to go into the sciences ... :(
As Anne notes, maybe our girls too will draw inspiration from the sari and mallipoo wearing women rocket scientists.
For Ramesh, MAK, and me, we all grew up in an India that had a woman as the prime minister. We were in a school where girls routinely outscored us in tests and exams. Not a big deal to men like us. I have always been convinced that only the stupid and insecure men (perhaps there are too many of them around!) who feel threatened by females. At least, conditions are not anywhere as awful as those bad old days.
Ramesh, a student who was in my first meeting with the class did not show up for the second meeting--I suspect he has dropped the course. Guess what? A science major ;) Either the course was too dull and boring and easy for him, or a case of bellyache ... ;)
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