Sociology and Anthropology 7(7): 306-312, 2019 http://www.hrpub.org DOI: 10.13189/sa.2019.070702 Women in Science and Technology: A study in Bangladesh Hasibun Naher1,*, Tasfia Tanim2, Nadira Sultana3 1Department of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, BRAC University, Bangladesh 2 Department of English, East West University, Bangladesh 3HURDCO International School, Bangladesh Copyright©2019 by authors, all rights reserved. Authors agree that this article remains permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 International License Abstract Science and technology are very closely 1. Background connected in every sphere of our lives. As scientific study aims at conquering knowledge of the complexities in In the last two decades, remarkable progress has been nature and finding solutions to unsolved problems, it is made but there is also much that remains to be vital for the development of mankind. The constructive accomplished [1, 2]. Even today in the modern developed influences of technology are numerous. The human life has world parents still prefer to have a boy rather than a girl. been modernized for the development in this field. Science One longstanding reason why boys have been seen as a and Technology serves as the engine of development of a greater blessing that they are expected to become better country and an engine of change for the society. An economic providers during their parents' old age. Yet it is inclusive gender gap has continued over the years at all time for parents to think that girls may now be a better fields of STEM disciplines all over the world. Even though investment. Girls get better grades at school than boys. the involvement of women in higher education has More women go to university than men. Women will thus increased, they are still under-represented. A lack of female be better equipped for the new jobs of the 21st century. representation negatively impacts our future for the society. Education is a human right and an essential tool for There is a direct correlation between development of a achieving equality, development, and peace. Female country and its practice of science and technology. For this education contributes to poverty alleviation, improved purpose, women along with men should be given ample nutrition and reduced fertility [3-6]. Education also opportunities to enter into and excel in science, technology, improves women’s own health outcomes and life and related professions. Women are enterprising in science expectancy, their ability to influence family decisions and and technology with the inspiration and knowledge their likelihood of engaging in formal paid employment. enabling them to utilize their full potential. They are Aside from the intrinsic value of education, better-educated committed to developing themselves as leaders through women are more productive and have higher incomes; they education, mentorship, networking, and information marry later and may have healthier and better-educated sharing. The research work is based on data for students, children [5-7]. Perhaps most importantly an educated teachers and scientists who are in public, private woman can more easily avoid the vicious cycle of poverty. universities and scientific institutions of Bangladesh. We So many experts are convinced that investment in the displayed and illustrated collected data in various tables education of girls may well be the highest-return and also compared male, female students, teachers and investment available in the developing world [6, 7]. scientists and findings disclose that women in all Bangladesh is a developing country and behind her less and mentioned sectors slightly increased. As half of the total slow development lack of proper female education is one population is women, the main objective of this paper is to of the main reasons. Most of the women drop out from highlight the increased involvement of women in STEM pursuing higher education after or before completing field that would allow the country to develop and improve secondary level. There are several causes such as poverty, socio-economic prospects. early marriage, lack of parent’s education, insufficient stipend, burden of household chores, lack of security and Keywords Female, Science, Technology, Developing many others. A productive as well as a quality life for all Country, Bangladesh irrespective of whether it is a developed or developing country is a rightful demand of this science and ICT century [7-9]. For this purpose, women—along with Sociology and Anthropology 7(7): 306-312, 2019 307 men— should be given ample opportunities to enter in This has been addressed in the National Science and science, technology, and related professions. Realizing that Technology Policy 2011 ensuring women’s participation low representation of women in science and engineering is as well as empowering them in every sphere of science and a major hindrance to global capacity building in science technology related education and research. Efforts should and technology. Women’s participation in science and be made for international research collaboration, technology professions must be encouraged to strengthen networking and the ability to disseminate scientific their roles in the development of the country free from knowledge among fellow women scientists and exchange hunger, malnutrition and unhealthy environment [1-12]. of opinions among young female scientists and engineers People will share and use resources in a sustainable way in Bangladesh in order to develop their leadership skills. through proper education without gender discrimination. The government and the Bangladesh Academy of Science Women’s participation must be encouraged both as should come forward to initiate this kind of collaboration. educators and researchers for addressing different issues. Family support, institutional support and most importantly This work emphasizes on the noteworthiness of government support are very important for women to education policy which assigns the highest priority to succeed in their professional career. stimulating science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). 3. Materials and Methods 2. The Role of STEM in Development Bangladesh is a developing country. Socio-economic condition is not satisfactory since half of the total Encouraging women to take part in activities involving population is women. Here men and women do not science and technology would allow the country to develop participate equally in social development. But in market and maximize its valuable human assets, empowering of economy women of Bangladesh are always facing new women, and improving its economic prospects. Women are challenges. Though women work in educational enterprising in science and technology with the inspiration institutions, medical professions, factories, police, even in and knowledge enabling them to utilize their full potential. the uneven areas, women are neglected. In the society of They are committed to developing themselves as leaders gender disparity, it is difficult for women to stay parallel through education, mentorship, networking, and and enjoy the right of equal participant. The development information sharing. Indicators and information are of a country is a continuous process and there is no easy required for females in many countries to help understand formula for a magic transition. Men and women must work and address this situation of declining interest in and entry hand in hand and must work hard. The state of science into science and engineering, and the consequences there education in schools and colleges in Bangladesh is far from of for capacity and application of science, engineering and satisfactory. The status of women in science education in technology (SET) for social and economic development. the country at different levels for the last couple of years is We need data and information for evidence-based analysis presented. At each stage of the academic ladder, from high and understanding of the situation, and for policy-making school to highest academic positions, the representation of and planning to address the problem in Bangladesh. The women in science declines substantially. As they move situation is complex in developing countries due to from high school to college, more women than men who shortage of statistical data and proper guidelines on science have expressed an interest in science or engineering decide and engineering. to major in something else; in the transition to graduate There are many challenges for women right from the school, more women than men with science and beginning of education to the career development level at engineering degrees opt into other fields of study. home and at working place. It needs rigorous efforts on the At the present, in Bangladesh, there are 43 public and 97 part of all to break all biases and prejudices about women private universities as per report, April 2018. But in 2017, scientists, ensure that young girls have the freedom and the number of public and private universities was 40 and 95 confidence to pursue careers in science and technology, respectively, and following tables illustrated number of support students through every academic stage, encourage both universities as per years. The private universities offer women at home and at working place, create an mostly BBA, English, Economics, Social Sciences, CSE, environment to attract women to professional lives, EEE, etc. and major in basic science subjects are few