Not Here To Tick A Box: Why Women In STEM Need To Speak Up

Vithyaa Thavapalan

11 February marks International Day of Women and Girls in Science, and yet there are challenges for Women in STEM.

Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields thrive on innovation, evidence-based inquiry, and critical thinking. Yet, for many women in STEM myself included - the journey is often marked by challenges that go beyond the laboratory or the field. As we celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, it’s important to not only highlight the successes of women in STEM but also address the systemic and cultural issues that still exist.

My career as a forensic fire investigator has taken me across Australia and Internationally, working in a predominantly male-dominated industry. I have navigated technical complexities, fire-damaged structures, and high-stakes investigations. But some of the most difficult situations I’ve encountered have not been in the field, they have been in professional settings where I expected respect but instead encountered sexism, ignorance, and outright discrimination.

Despite the progress we celebrate on days like today, the gender and minority gap in STEM persists, not just in hiring and leadership but in the very culture of professional and academic spaces. For many women, especially those of colour, conferences, networking events, and industry are meant to be spaces for knowledge-sharing and growth - can become battlegrounds where we have to justify our place in the room.

I have attended industry conferences and social events, expecting to engage in meaningful conversations about advancements in fire science and engineering. Instead, I’ve had to sit through derogatory remarks, dismissive attitudes, and comments laced with misogyny, racism, and ignorance that were all offensive to many marginalised groups in Australia including the indigenous population.

On one occasion at a team event hosted by my employer at the time, a conversation involving the indigenous population of Australia ended in remarks dismissing them as the traditional owners of the land. I looked at my colleagues in shock with not one person saying anything in protest.

These are not just isolated incidents. They reflect a broader issue that still exists in STEM industries: a culture that often sidelines or diminishes the voices of women and minorities. While companies and institutions publicly champion diversity and inclusion, the reality on the ground often tells a different story.

Women in STEM don’t just face a glass ceiling, we walk on a floor made of hot coals, forced to constantly prove our credibility, navigate dismissive attitudes, and endure moments of outright hostility. And yet, we persist.

International Day of Women and Girls in Science is not just about celebrating achievements it is also about acknowledging the barriers that remain and actively working to dismantle them. STEM industries must do better by:

• Calling out discrimination in professional settings, including conferences, workplaces, and academic institutions.

• Holding organisers and speakers accountable for creating inclusive and respectful spaces.

• Encouraging diverse representation in leadership to ensure decisions reflect the needs of all professionals.

• Mentoring and supporting women in STEM, so they are not forced to navigate these challenges alone.

For those of us who have had to endure these moments of discrimination, speaking up is not easy. But silence only allows the problem to continue. If you are a woman in STEM and have experienced similar challenges, know that you are not alone. Our presence in this field is not an accident - it is earned. And we will continue to break barriers, not because we have to prove anything, but because science needs us.

This International Day of Women and Girls in Science, let’s commit to real change not just performative statements but actual action that makes STEM a field where every woman and girl feels safe, respected, and valued.

Because the fire of change has already started. And we’re not putting it out anytime soon.