Gender disparity stifles women's progress in STEM fields: survey

Only 23% of women feel adequately supported in STEM careers.

In Singapore, 61% of women and 51% of men perceive societal expectations and stereotypes as contributing to gender imbalances in the STEM workforce, the United Women Singapore (UWS) reported.

According to the report, there is a marked disparity in how men and women perceive opportunities in STEM fields, with less than a third (30%) of women believing equal prospects exist, compared to 41% of men.

UWS also found a gap between what women expect from men in supporting STEM careers and what men believe they can do, with 40% of women wanting men to advocate for equal pay and promotions, whilst significantly fewer men see this as helpful.

Notably, only 23% of women believe they receive sufficient support to succeed in STEM careers in Singapore, compared to 52% of men.

In addition, UWS found that nearly 30% of survey respondents (both genders) felt that the presence of the opposite gender in their STEM fields could limit their opportunities.

"When workplaces do not have diversity in their workforce, it risks perpetuating stereotypes and worsens the ability to include persons from different backgrounds who have the potential to contribute. Meritocracy is a key pillar of Singapore’s progress while ensuring continuous social mobility in our society,” Sun Xueling, Minister of State said.

UWS surveyed 1,000 Singaporeans aged 18–34 on the barriers women face in pursuing or working in STEM careers.