TEDx Talks - STEM Wasn’t Built for Her—So She Built Her Own Path! | Liza Waseem | TEDxHaque Academy Youth
The speaker recounts her journey in STEM, starting at age six when she built her first robot. This experience was transformative, challenging societal norms in Pakistan about gender roles. She highlights the low percentage of women in STEM globally, particularly in Pakistan, and emphasizes the emotional and societal challenges faced by girls in these fields. Her experiences in competitions and international events underscore the importance of representation and the courage required to persist in male-dominated spaces. She argues that STEM is not just for traditional roles like engineers or scientists but for anyone who wants to make a difference, including organizers and designers. The speaker concludes by encouraging girls in STEM to persist, as their presence and ideas are vital in redefining boundaries.
Key Points:
- STEM is about breaking societal norms and stereotypes, especially for girls in male-dominated fields.
- Representation in STEM is crucial; seeing others like oneself succeed can inspire and empower.
- STEM is not limited to traditional roles; it includes organizers, designers, and anyone who wants to innovate.
- Persistence in STEM by girls is a statement of belonging and opens doors for others.
- STEM is a mindset that encourages problem-solving and innovation, regardless of the odds.
Details:
1. 🌟 A Child's First Robot: Breaking Barriers
- At 6 years old, I built my first robot, demonstrating that creativity and technical skills can be harnessed at a young age.
- The robot was not world-changing but personally transformative, highlighting the importance of early exposure to STEM fields.
- The experience took place during an FL Junior challenge, emphasizing the role of competitions in motivating young learners.
- This experience was particularly significant as a girl in Pakistan, breaking stereotypes about gender and age in technology and innovation.
2. 📊 Women in STEM: Beyond the Numbers
2.1. Statistical Insights into Women in STEM
2.2. Narrative Insights: Beyond Statistics
3. 🚀 Challenges and Resilience in STEM
- Girls in STEM often face the perception of being novelties in male-dominated fields, which can impact their confidence and participation levels.
- STEM environments like competitions and international events are predominantly male, creating additional psychological barriers for girls who may feel outnumbered or undervalued.
- Beyond technical skills, girls in STEM need to cultivate resilience and courage to persist in environments where they might not see many role models who look like them.
- The journey of girls in STEM requires them to regularly confront and overcome biases, which strengthens their problem-solving and leadership skills.
- For instance, participation in STEM competitions can enhance not only technical expertise but also build the mental fortitude needed to challenge stereotypes and succeed.
4. 🔍 Early STEM Experiences: Finding Belonging
- The speaker's interest in STEM was nurtured by creative toys chosen by her mother, which emphasized creativity over traditional gender roles, highlighting the impact of early parental influence on career interests.
- At age 9, she joined a World Robot Olympia team as the only girl, challenging gender biases and demonstrating resilience in male-dominated environments.
- Despite initial feelings of alienation, programming a Lego robot led to personal accomplishment and a sense of belonging, illustrating the power of hands-on achievement in building confidence.
- These experiences underscore the importance of fostering inclusive environments in STEM from a young age to support diversity and belonging.
- The speaker's early STEM challenges and triumphs laid a foundation for her future career, emphasizing the long-term impact of overcoming gender-related obstacles in formative years.
5. 🌎 Global Impact: Empowering Future Generations
- Representation is crucial: Simply showing up can be as impactful as winning, breaking stereotypes and inspiring others.
- Travel to Lebanon as a translator for an underprivileged all-girls team demonstrated the importance of overcoming language barriers and providing essential support, highlighting communication skills.
- The support provided to the all-girls team emphasized the need to show young girls that their ideas and voices matter, boosting their confidence and encouraging participation.
- Key roles such as videography and coordination at the WR Open championship in Italy illustrate the importance of supporting roles in empowering participants and ensuring event success.
- The presence of young girls with revolutionary ideas at the championship demonstrates the impact of representation and the importance of role models in encouraging diversity in STEM fields.
6. 🔨 Behind the Scenes: The Backbone of Innovation
- Recognize that event planning and logistics management are integral to the STEM field, forming the foundation that supports innovation.
- Develop resilience, collaboration, and critical thinking skills as essential tools for success in STEM.
- Every project and competition for girls in STEM serves as a statement of belonging, challenging the notion that they do not fit in the field.
- Persisting in STEM not only opens doors for oneself but also helps pave the way for future generations of girls in STEM.
7. 🎯 Redefining STEM: A Broader Vision of Inclusion
- STEM is not limited to traditional roles like coders or engineers; it includes dreamers, organizers, and creators who aim to fix broken systems, innovate, and lead.
- STEM is a mindset and a way of believing in solutions despite challenges, applicable to any girl wishing to improve the world.
- Encourages inclusivity by asserting that every girl belongs in STEM and their ideas matter, emphasizing persistence and breaking boundaries.