USAID/Pakistan and the Consulate General Lahore plan to continue holding interactions with women, as part of their regular operations. The aim is to maintain a free flow of information on both sides, and highlight potential possibilities of collaboration.
As part of this series of interactions, Reed Aeschliman, the Mission Director of USAID/Pakistan visited Lahore on November 22 to meet stakeholders. Therefore, USAID/Pakistan's Regional Office Punjab in collaboration with LUMS and FAST-NU organised an informal discussion and networking dinner titled, “Pakistani Women in STEM - Reshaping Lives” for women professionals and entrepreneurs with a background in STEM. The agenda for this specific event was, "How empowered women in STEM can change lives, and what specific challenges do they face".
Women may be Pakistan’s most underutilised resource, and a major reason for lack of dynamic growth in the country. But more importantly, an absence of focus on promoting women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) fields is the major hindrance in development of the country. Finding ways to make Pakistani women active members of the economy not only benefits the women, but also supports their families; and on a macro level ensure that their communities and the country as a whole grows.
There is a long history of Pakistan women in STEM fields; however they have never received enough recognition for their trailblazing accomplishments. We never celebrate Fatima Jinnah opening up her dental clinic in 1923, or acknowledge Marium Mukhtiar paying the ultimate price after accepting the risks of her chosen profession. There are a multitude of examples of a STEM woman being the only woman in the room, competing with men on equal footing due to her competence, passion for chosen field, and sheer hard work.
We have a lot of positive examples, but Pakistani women in STEM fields – despite all of their hard work and the country’s investment in their education – still cannot realise their full potential in the workplace. After all, how many trailblazing women in STEM fields do you know?
There is a need for all of us to work harder to ensure the success of women in STEM. To start the work, we have to get a conversation going among ourselves about what is being done, what should be done, and what we will do. But there is no official platform run by a university, professional members association, or any other body; where STEM women can come together, articulate their challenges, and figure out ways to address the challenges of professional working women.
To start the conversation, this informal discussion and networking event was organised by National University (FAST-NU) of Computer and Emerging Sciences, and Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).
The women participants at the event included highly educated and skilled women academics, entrepreneurs, and working professionals from different STEM fields. Despite their education, skills and qualifications, they did not have equal opportunities to grow in their fields. The wide-ranging discussion highlighted the challenges they have faced and are facing in the workplace, and proposed solutions on how they can work together for mutual growth, and the support they require to be successful in their fields.
A few glimpses:
As an electrical engineer, I should be allowed to climb up utility towers to diagnose faults in power lines, as it is part of the job and I am perfectly capable of doing so.
For too long, we have been ignored and silenced; and having listeners is good.
There is a lack of self-confidence on the part of women, that they can do better and achieve the desired goal. We are the biggest hurdles in achieving our goals.
We need to have faith in ideas and have a positive mindset. But it is not being addressed as there is a lack of mentors, and a lack of empathy and understanding by bosses.
Challenges to women's economic participation include discrimination by job type and sector, restrictions on women's freedom and mobility.
There is a lack of successful role models, even though trailblazing women exist. Women in the media in Pakistan are mostly portrayed as housewives or waiting for Prince Charming. The achievements of women are not celebrated.
Support from families, especially parents, is crucial in the growth of women.
Women in leadership roles are not taken seriously, especially orders are not obeyed. The managers actively discourage expression of opinions by women in meetings.
Pakistani women in STEM can be more active participants in the growth of the country; as long as what they can and cannot do is being decided by them, not for them.