Republic of Armenia Leveling the STEM Playing Field for Women : Differences in Opportunity and Outcomes in Fields of Study and the Labor Market
This report summarizes the challenges facing Armenian women at school and in the workplace with a special focus on STEM-related employment. As the world transitions to an increasingly digital economy, jobs in science, technology, engineering, and m...
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| Language: | English en_US |
| Published: |
World Bank, Washington, DC
2017
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/355331495185406481/Armenia-leveling-the-STEM-playing-field-for-women-differences-in-opportunity-and-outcomes-in-fields-of-study-and-the-labor-market http://hdl.handle.net/10986/26766 |
| Summary: | This report summarizes the challenges
facing Armenian women at school and in the workplace with a
special focus on STEM-related employment. As the world
transitions to an increasingly digital economy, jobs in
science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM)
will become a powerful driver of economic growth in the
twenty-first century. Changes in economic productivity
brought through technological innovation require countries
to focus on STEM; these high-productivity fields are
increasingly in demand in the global economy, and are the
key to competitiveness and gross domestic product (GDP)
growth.Parity between men and women was one of the major
achievements of socialist regimes in Eastern Europe and
Central Cultural stereotypes about the types of work women
should engage in and their responsibilities at home present
the strongest barrier to equality between women and men in
Armenia Asia. Although access, enrolment, and achievement
rates are gender-equal in Armenia, women and girls tend to
self-select out of STEM education tracks and career fields.
At the level of education institutions, policy actions can
address issues of access, information, biases, and
system-wide changes to promote gender neutrality. In the
short term, schools can engage teachers and students in
discussions about the benefits of STEM fields of study and
careers, encourage girls to embrace their interest in math
and science, and provide positive role models of women who
work in STEM careers. Policy action can help women make the
school-to-work transition and promote their career
advancement once they are working. At a national level,
policy and regulatory actions can address systemic issues of
bias, market failure, and information. Even at this level,
some quick wins are feasible. The government may consider
whether public information campaigns are needed to promote
positive aspects of STEM careers to students in middle
school and above, such as greater income, flexibility, and
status, as well as launch a media campaign to promote and
celebrate positive female role models in STEM. STEM sectors
are an important source of growth for Armenia given the
country’s geography and closed borders. Also, considering
Armenia’s adverse demographic trends, lifting women’s
participation in key growth potential sectors, including
STEM, is increasingly critical. |
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