Women in STEM and Diversity at GAL Digital
Why exactly we allow ourselves to express an opinion? Because an apparent trend is influencing the media: the desire to promote women in STEM fields. The term STEM covers the fields of mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology. Areas in which women are still underrepresented. What so often appears to be a charity campaign is everyday life for us. But it's not just about women, it's about people regardless of their gender, origin, appearance or religion.
THE BASIS
Women are still less likely to choose education in STEM fields. According to the Federal Statistical Office, only around 32% of enrolled students in STEM fields will be women in the 2019/2020 winter semester.
The difference is even greater in computer science itself, where the figure was just under 22% in the same semester. These figures have remained at this level for years, despite the fact that the German Federal Ministry of Education launched the "Komm, mach MINT." project back in 2008, an initiative designed to encourage interested schoolgirls, inspire young women to study STEM subjects and create more female leadership positions.
Although the number of women in STEM fields has increased by about 75% since then, further growth has stagnated for years. A lack of qualifications on the part of women cannot be assumed to be the reason here, because according to the Federal Agency for Civic Education, girls and young women have been achieving higher educational qualifications more often than their male classmates for years, and their grades are also better on average.
PREJUDICES - WHY WE LOVE BEING NERDS
A dark, poorly ventilated basement room, illuminated only by the light of huge monitors. In the glow of the monitors, you see men hammering away at the keyboard like machines at an uncanny speed. This might be how you imagine agency life, but we at GAL Digital can definitely say the opposite.
The clichéd image of the nerd persists in the minds of many parents, teachers and guidance counselors. One possible reason why women are less likely to choose training in STEM fields? Whether it's movies, series or books - they all often present a uniformly off-putting image. Unattractive, unathletic, unpopular - characteristics that are not particularly desirable.
Let's get away from these clichés - it's better to think of the term nerd in a positive way. We at GAL Digital are nerds and we love it. It means being an expert in your field and doing it with passion. We think: STEM is what connects us here at GAL Digital!
We write "We Love Digital" on our banner, but we are just as diverse in every other area. We are strategists, physicists, music producers, designers, photographers, team players, and we are also analog.
Surprised? Then let's clear up the biggest cliché:
We are not only men!
SELF-EMPOWERMENT
Another reason why women are less likely to choose STEM professions could be the daunting complexity of the fields combined with a lack of self-confidence. From childhood, society teaches us how gender-specific skills are defined. Boys traditionally practice engineering, and a girl with an interest in technology is considered special. We are for cross-gender self-empowerment, true to our motto:
"Everyone said it couldn't be done, and then one came along who didn't know that and just did it."
We are convinced that often one's own or social expectations become reality because a thought construct that has been created persists. For example, as a student, if I expect to be bad at math, I am because I lack self-confidence.
RELEVANCE AND STRATEGY - THE PROMOTION OF MINT AT GAL DIGITAL
To dispel these prejudices and introduce young people to STEM professions as early as possible, Daniel Gal, Managing Director of GAL Digital, has been involved as a STEM ambassador for several years. In addition to donations for STEM projects, the local kindergarten gets a "GALactic" day delivered to our agency every year. Early practice!
It is therefore a matter of course for us that the students of Singbergschule Wölfersheim spend their MINT day with us, because this also gives the teachers in particular an accurate picture of the industry. It is particularly important to us to give young women and also men an insight into our work at an early stage. We are always happy to welcome interns from the fifth grade onwards.
Inherent in the digital industry is the unstoppable progress that drives us to constantly educate ourselves. The promotion and further training of each individual employee are indispensable.
PERSONAL STATEMENT - WOMEN AT GAL DIGITAL
"There is far more meaning behind STEM professions than one might grasp at first glance. They don't just mean trivially formulated, the technical or scientific examination in everyday professional life. It is not only women that this social prestige opens the door. Such recognition means having a voice whose opinion is valued, not only professionally but also in private, social contexts.
Moreover, being a better earner does not only have an impact on the material goods of everyday use, it also means independence, equal opportunities and self-confidence, just consider the example of single mothers.
STEM professions are therefore an opportunity to participate more in shaping the events of one's environment. The question of the relevance of promoting women and girls in STEM professions is therefore purely rhetorical for me. Perhaps all that is needed is reinforcement in ability.
As a graduate designer with a computer science focus, the entry point is there, but the path is not complete. With GAL Digital, I've found an employer to continue on this path."
Carina Moser - Graduate Designer at GAL Digital
SOCIAL SECURITY AND PERSONAL SELF-DEVELOPMENT THROUGH MINT
The number of working women has been growing for years. Gainful employment in itself not only means current social security, but also prevents poverty in old age. We identify ourselves with our professional activity and find the opportunity to develop our personality. In case of unemployment, personal crises can occur and one experiences social bias.
Women are increasingly finding themselves in part-time jobs due to the need to balance career and family. This means losses in earnings and pension provision. According to the German Federal Statistical Office, almost every second employed woman between the ages of 15 and 74 was employed part-time in 2019. Among men, this share was 12%.
THRIVING CORPORATE CULTURE
We think that companies, regardless of gender, should see diversity not just as an image campaign, but as a sensible economic principle that makes companies more innovative, flexible and sustainable in the long term. If you can look at a project from a variety of different angles, you open up entirely new possibilities for developing your ideas.
MINT MAKES STRONG
Finally, it is important to emphasize the fact that employment in STEM professions can mean independence for women. Women in STEM professions are not only an enrichment for the corporate culture, these professions are also safe career stepping stones with positive effects in social structures.
At GAL Digital, we never tire of emphasizing that women should be encouraged to approach STEM subjects. Of course, this applies to all genders, who can thus gain an advantage. It's not about whether you're a man or a woman; it's your personal performance that counts.