JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – You might remember a photo that went viral of over 100 female meteorologists wearing the same dress from late 2015. It originated from a group of female meteorologists on Facebook where a link to the dress was shared and close to 100 of the women purchased the dress. Meteorologist Jennifer Myers arranged the photos of the ladies into a collage, that then went viral.
Female meteorologists across the country are wearing the identical dress on March 14th (Pi Day) to encourage young ladies to study and enter STEM careers. STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. The US Department of Educations says, the United States has developed as a global leader, in large part, through the genius and hard work of its scientists, engineers, and innovators. In a world that’s becoming increasingly complex, where success is driven not only by what you know, but by what you can do with what you know, it’s more important than ever for our youth to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to solve tough problems, gather and evaluate evidence, and make sense of information. These are the types of skills that students learn by studying science, technology, engineering, and math—subjects collectively known as STEM.
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"It's important for young people to see someone who looks like them. Even when I'm not feeling 100%, I try to remember that today may be the day some young girl turns on my forecast and decides "I can do that too!' So that keeps me going and fuels my fire to be better than I was yesterday....for the young women that will do this work tomorrow." -Rachael Peart, Meteorologist
Research shows that females are less likely to pursue careers in STEM fields and less likely to study STEM related subjects in college. The female meteorologists wearing the identical dresses on March 14th are hoping it sparks conversations about that and eventually change.
"My parents always told me I could do whatever I put my mind to... so I did! At an early age, I was fascinated with all types of science. One day a female meteorologist came to my school to talk about her job, forecasting the weather and how it wasn't a "man's job" anymore. Right then, at age 7, I decided that's what i wanted to be... a Meteorologist! 6 years of school, countless science classes, 3 jobs and 10 years of experience... I'm still going strong! You can do it too!" - Mary Wasson - Meteorologist, Spectrum News Austin, TX
Women in STEM jobs earn 33 percent more than those in non-STEM occupations and experience a smaller wage gap relative to men. And STEM careers offer women the opportunity to engage in some of the most exciting realms of discovery and technological innovation. Increasing opportunities for women in these fields is an important step towards realizing greater economic success and equality for women across the board.
Locally, The Musuem of Science and History (MOSH) holds STEM camps during the summer, this years dates are TBA. Campers explore science, history and astronomy as they conduct experiments, journey to the edge of the universe in the Bryan-Gooding Planetarium, and explore museum exhibits.
Meteorologist Julia Weiden proposed the idea of wearing the identical dresses in 2016 to help raise awareness of the small percentage of females that graduate with degrees in STEM fields and have careers in STEM fields. The ladies chose Pi Day (March 14th) as the day, and the hashtag #DressForSTEM for social media posts. Meteorologist Weiden wrote a blog post about the movement, and you can read it here...
Here are some STEM facts from The US Department of Commerce:
Women are vastly underrepresented in STEM jobs and among STEM degree holders despite making up nearly half of the U.S. workforce and half of the college-educated workforce. That leaves an untapped opportunity to expand STEM employment in the United States, even as there is wide agreement that the nation must do more to improve its competitiveness.
-Although women fill close to half of all jobs in the U.S. economy, they hold less than 25 percent
of STEM jobs. This has been the case throughout the past decade, even as college-educated
women have increased their share of the overall workforce.
-Women with STEM jobs earned 33 percent more than comparable women in non-STEM jobs –
considerably higher than the STEM premium for men. As a result, the gender wage gap is
smaller in STEM jobs than in non-STEM jobs.
-Women hold a disproportionately low share of STEM undergraduate degrees, particularly in
engineering.
-Women with a STEM degree are less likely than their male counterparts to work in a STEM
occupation; they are more likely to work in education or healthcare.
There are many possible factors contributing to the discrepancy of women and men in STEM
jobs, including: a lack of female role models, gender stereotyping, and less family-friendly
flexibility in the STEM fields. Regardless of the causes, the findings of this report provide evidence
of a need to encourage and support women in STEM.
The female meteorologists also have some words of encouragement and insight to ladies considering a career in STEM fields:
"Something I would tell my student self and something I still tell my adult self every single day... don't listen to or follow the stereotype. Just do what you want to do and try to be the best at it." -Chief Meteorologist Kris Allred, WSAV Savvanah
"I was sick of being told I couldn't do it. No one took me seriously. Even in my college classes people thought I would fail, but I did it. I became a meteorologist when most people thought I couldn't because I wore makeup and liked to shop. I can't wait to tell my daughter my story and let her know it's not just a man's world. She can do anything she wants." - Meteorologist Heidi Moore, WVNS Beckley, WV
"Always follow your heart! Do what you love! Never loose your passion! Dream BIG! Never settle! Never stop learning! Never stop growing! Stand up for what your believe in! Take risks! Take chances! Most importantly...always be yourself!" -Meteorologist Vanessa Alonso KSNT-TV Topeka,KS
"I went into this field to show people that science doesn't have to be scary. I didn't realize it was a male dominant field until I got in it. I followed my passions, not what social standards dictate!" -Meteorologist Candice Boling, WNCT Greenville, NC
"If your heart is in the right place, anything is possible. The all nighters were worth it. Countless nights dreaming of equations were worth it! Those tornado dreams don't go away. I'm so glad I didn't let bullies get the best of me early on. Love yourself, listen to few, and lose the stereotype. It's 2017." -Meteorologist Brittany Beggs, KMIZ Columbia Missouri