In recent years, hundreds of thousands of women have pursued degrees in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields. An education in these disciplines often leads to competitive salaries and ample job opportunities.

However, women in STEM often face a challenging set of circumstances that can alter their educational journey and career path. Women in STEM make 16 percent less than their male counterparts, on average, according to 2017 data provided by the Economics and Statistics Administration. While these numbers have gradually improved over the last two decades, women still face many obstacles in these male-dominated fields.

Girls and women are systematically tracked away from science and math throughout their education, limiting their training and options to go into these fields as adults. Women make up only 28% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and men vastly outnumber women majoring in most STEM fields in college. The gender gaps are particularly high in some of the fastest-growing and highest-paid jobs of the future, like computer science and engineering.

Books

"The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks", by Rebecca Skloot

"Brotopia: Breaking Up the Boys' Club of Silicon Valley", by Emily Chang