The COVID-19 Pandemic is Widening the Gap for Women in STEM

Abstract

Now that we have gone more than a year in the "post-COVID-19 world," it is worth exploring how the gender gap for women in STEM has been affected by the pandemic and discuss strategies for bridging the gap. The COVID-19 pandemic has had far-reaching impacts on all populations, but the data show that it has disproportionately affected women and minorities, groups that are traditionally underrepresented in STEM fields. The pandemic has been shown to affect the productivity and well-being of women in STEM, and the long-term effects should be taken into consideration in evaluation criteria for merit raises, promotions, funding opportunities, and more. Much of the disparity that women are experiencing is related to caregiving responsibilities, which place a greater burden on women than men. Therefore, strategies to overcome the disparity should take into consideration approaches that reward and redistribute caregiving responsibilities. Finally, institutions should consider ways to specifically support women who have been impacted by the pandemic by reducing service and administrative burdens, providing networking opportunities and mentoring, and rethinking the criteria that are used for promotion. It will take considerable effort, but advancing women in STEM is critical to the health of the profession.