By Helen De Michiel
Essential viewing for students, educators, counselors, policy makers and parents, THE GENDER CHIP PROJECT is being hailed as an important resource for addressing the disparity of representation of women in the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. Although women comprise the majority of undergraduates in America, only 20 percent are earning degrees in engineering and computer science. Opportunities for workers in STEM fields are expected to increase by 5.6 million by 2008, yet only 11 percent of the science and engineering workforce is comprised of women. With statistics like these¡ªand recent controversies such as the firestorm created when a prominent university president suggested women lack innate abilities in math and science¡ªit's clear that the road to success in the high-stakes STEM professions is not an easy one for young women.
THE GENDER CHIP PROJECT illustrates this challenge as it follows five extraordinary women majoring in the sciences, engineering and math at Ohio State University. Meeting regularly throughout their four years of school, they create a community to share their experiences and struggles as women stepping into traditionally male domains, and find support in dialog with their female professors. The film shows how these extraordinary students are finding their own way to navigate and succeed in these male-dominated areas of study.
Reviews
~ "¡does an outstanding job of capturing the real voices of women and their journey within the still chilly STEM education system." - Karen Peterson, Executive Director, Puget Sound Center for Teaching, Learning, and Technology
~ "¡provocative and stimulating¡provides a window into the relevant issues that a diverse group of women face in their college years as they sort through their interests and experiences in the fields of science and technology." - Jane Margolis, Co-Author, "Unlocking the Clubhouse: Women in Computing"
~ "A probing, eye-opening unpacking of the equation women and science that rocks preconceptions and twists open unexpected gendered issues about math, medicine, technology and engineering."- Patricia R. Zimmermann, Ph.D, Professor of Cinema and Photography, Ithaca College
~ "Insightful. Highly recommended with great potential for use in many collections. Beneficial to teachers, guidance counselors and school administrators [and to] those who have the obligation of developing gender neutral curricula." - Educational Media Reviews Online
~ "Should inspire teenage girls to investigate nontraditional college majors and careers."- Booklist
~ "Useful in exploring gender studies topics and as a tool to prepare teen girls for the pressures of higher education." - Meghann R. Matwichuk, School Library Journal
Note
~ Go Girls! at Symphony Space
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