Author: Bin Jeong, CEO, Pinkfong, USA
It’s well-documented that women dominate the workforce in industries like nursing, teaching and public relations, but when it comes to STEM careers, where the gender wage gap is considerably smaller than other fields, the numbers are dismally low. According to the Census Bureau's 2009 American Community Survey, women comprise 48 percent of the U.S. workforce, but just 24 percent work in STEM fields. So, the million dollar question is: how to remedy this situation?
As a female CEO of a multinational children’s tech company, with a staff of predominantly women - 60 percent, in fact - there are certain things STEM employers can implement to not only help current female employees thrive, but also encourage and attract new female talent.
While the above listed won’t solve every issue related to women in STEM professions, employing these tactics will at least ensure employers are taking these issues seriously and are eager to make a change.
About the Author
Bin Jeong is the CEO of Pinkfong USA, a subsidiary of SmartStudy. She currently leads the company’s international business development efforts in the U.S. market and additional distribution channels for Pinkfong’s apps, digital content and offline products. She directs and oversees Pinkfong’s YouTube operations, devising growth strategies based on analysis of performance metrics, helping the company’s multiple YouTube channels grow to 2.3 million subscribers, and become a favorite amongst children worldwide.
- Flexibility is key: The days of strictly-structured 9-5 work days are over, and trying to enforce this rule is futile. What employees, and especially women (as they still bear a heavier load than men in balancing work and family) truly value is the ability to get work done, with the freedom to set their own schedules.
- Paid maternity leave: The U.S. continues to be one of the least progressive countries when it comes to paid maternity leave, with new mothers entitled to less than three weeks off at an average full wage rate. One step we’ve taken at Pinkfong to help expectant team members is extending a generous paid maternity leave of 3 months.
- Vacation time: A recent study shows that women take less time off than men, but that could be remedied by cultivating a caring company culture. By empowering employees to take time off without the guilt associated of being away from the office, the benefits can be reaped by workers of any gender, as well as employers.
- Female-friendly environment: As evidenced in this recent article, corporations within STEM industries often inherently have a bro culture can be a huge barrier of entry for women. For those who do break through buddy networks, employers need to ensure women are safe and comfortable for by eradicating the gender wage gap, eliminating preconceived notions, establishing a clear sexual harassment policy and forbidding sexist language and behavior.
While the above listed won’t solve every issue related to women in STEM professions, employing these tactics will at least ensure employers are taking these issues seriously and are eager to make a change.
About the Author
Bin Jeong is the CEO of Pinkfong USA, a subsidiary of SmartStudy. She currently leads the company’s international business development efforts in the U.S. market and additional distribution channels for Pinkfong’s apps, digital content and offline products. She directs and oversees Pinkfong’s YouTube operations, devising growth strategies based on analysis of performance metrics, helping the company’s multiple YouTube channels grow to 2.3 million subscribers, and become a favorite amongst children worldwide.
