Grey Bruce Kids Fall 2021

“We should be encouraging
kids to find the types
of work that they will
find interesting and
helpful for them.”
up almost half of first-year students in an undergraduate STEM
program. According to Statistics Canada, in 2016 just 23 per cent
of science and technology workers were women, even though
women in a STEM-related university program graduate before
men typically do (27 per cent of women completed their degree
in four years compared to 16 per cent of men).
That disparity of women in the workforce is more than just
numbers. It means women may not have role models of other
women in leadership positions to look up to, and also means
that women tend to face challenges in an industry where they
do not see themselves represented.
“It was important I be better than the guys to get the same
amount of respect,” Primeau said, recalling early in her career it
was OK for men to go unchallenged when they said they didn’t
want a woman on their crew or working in one of their units.
“I was challenged that I was taking a ‘man’s’ job and not looking
after my husband,” Primeau said.
Phew, you may be thinking. I’m so glad that women in STEM no
longer have to deal with things like that. Sadly, you’d be wrong.
Chong says people often underestimated her capabilities and
dismissed her accomplishments throughout high school,
university and even in the workforce. When she was interviewing
for co-op positions as part of her engineering degree, she found
interviewers were surprised to learn she was female.
“I found myself working harder than my peers to prove my
worth,” she said, adding when she entered the workforce it
wasn’t just about proving herself anymore. “You’d be surprised
how many times I was mistaken to be an admin or an assistant
during work meetings and even walkdowns (in the field).”
INTEREST IN STEM
So what can parents do if their child begins showing an interest
in STEM-related activities? Chong says introducing STEM toys
and activities early on can be a great way to explore it in a fun
way, but just as importantly, parents should introduce them to
role models in STEM whether through books, websites, video,
or, if possible, in person.
Primeau agreed.
“Start talking about it early. It’s never too young to talk to your
kids about STEM careers. Introduce them to others in the field
– friends and family who can talk about how much they love
their jobs.”
For girls or non-male identifying children, it’s important
parents be supportive of their kids’ interest in STEM.
“Have an unbiased and open dialogue about their interests and
avoid discriminating a (career) field due to your child’s gender,”
Chong said. “Parents of girls or non-male identifying children
can be supportive of their children’s passion and interests.
(More) often than not, their children can face many oppositions
from their peers to their teachers, etc. The last place they want
to be second-guessed or doubted is at home.”
Looking back, Patterson recognizes today she and her brother
were treated differently when it came to their STEM-related
interest as kids. Growing up, both were interested in the
skilled trades.
“I was actively pushed away from pursuing a job in the trades
— my brother wasn’t,” she said. “We’re both happy in our
STEM careers, but I am sometimes jealous that he gets to wear
coveralls and fix things at work every day.”
12 GREY-BRUCE KIDS • FALL 2021