Stories from STEM women

Welcome to a space where voices are heard, and experiences are shared. These are the stories of incredible women navigating the STEM landscape, facing challenges, and rising above them. You are not alone.

Breaking the glass ceiling in engineering

Job: Civil engineer
What happened: "During my first year as a civil engineer, I was often assigned administrative tasks or overlooked for challenging field projects, which were consistently given to my male counterparts. My ideas in meetings were frequently interrupted or attributed to men who restated them. It felt as though my technical competence was constantly being questioned, despite my qualifications."
How she overcame: "I started meticulously documenting every instance of unequal treatment and bias. I sought out a mentor, another senior woman engineer, who advised me on how to assert myself in meetings and advocate for my involvement in key projects. I also joined a professional networking group for women in engineering, where I found immense support and strategies for navigating workplace politics. Eventually, I presented my documentation and concerns to HR, which led to a mandatory diversity and inclusion training for my department and a more equitable distribution of work."
Source: Anonymized personal account collected by The Resistance Room.

Navigating microaggressions in tech

Job: Software developer
What happened: "As a software developer, I've often faced subtle but persistent microaggressions. Colleagues would make comments like, 'Oh, you actually understand complex algorithms?' or 'You're pretty good for a woman.' These remarks, while seemingly innocent, chipped away at my confidence and made me feel like an outsider, constantly having to prove my intelligence and skills."
How she overcame: "Initially, I ignored these comments, hoping they would stop. But they didn't. I started practicing assertive responses like, 'What makes you say that?' or 'That comment is inappropriate.' I also confided in a trusted male colleague who became an ally, calling out sexist remarks when he heard them. I made sure to highlight my achievements and contributions publicly during team meetings, ensuring my work spoke for itself. This shift in approach helped me reclaim my space and command respect."
Source: Anonymized personal account collected by The Resistance Room.

Fighting for equal pay in scientific research

Job: Research scientist
What happened: "After several years as a research scientist, I discovered that male colleagues with less experience and similar qualifications were earning significantly more than me. When I brought this up to my supervisor, I was told that my salary was 'competitive for a woman in this field' and that I should focus on my research instead of 'trivial matters like compensation.'"
How she overcame: "I was furious but determined. I gathered data on industry salary benchmarks and discussed my findings with a union representative. I also networked with other women scientists in my organization and discovered that several of them faced similar pay disparities. We collectively approached the administration with our research and a formal demand for a pay equity review. The process was challenging, but our collective action led to a comprehensive salary audit and adjustments for many women, including myself. It taught me the power of solidarity."
Source: Anonymized personal account collected by The Resistance Room.

"These stories illuminate the path forward, demonstrating that resilience and community can overcome even the toughest challenges in STEM."

— The Resistance Room team