Why are there significantly less women in S.T.E.M fields, what we can do to help

[Mermaid]

That is a hell of a chip on your shoulder there. It's interesting to me that you speak to me so strongly about my experiences growing up female. If you want actual discourse on this, fine. But I don't really care to talk to someone who is so knee-jerk hostile about it. Sheesh. I am hardly "regurgitating mindless myths". Why so defensive about it?

As background, I have an advanced degree and a 25 year career in biological science.

An example from my own personal experience: When I was ready to go to college, more than one person (one of them a mother of two girls) told me that I was wasting my time and taking away a spot that a man should have, because I would end up married with kids and not working anyway.

Before your feathers get ruffled, I acknowledge and understand that men are subject to other, equally anguishing societal pressures.

Yeah, well, those people are genuine morons, apparently. I don't think civilised people will say stuff like that, and you shouldn't care about what people say anyway. Have any of your colleagues told you something like that? Any professors of yours? That would be a problem, not some half-baked opinions of jealous individuals who don't have any skills themselves.

It is a cultural problem, not just random idiots. Maybe giving my own examples for the sake of supporting that was a mistake. Why is it so out of the realm of possibility that our cultural mores encourage boys more than girls in certain fields? I am happy to say things have sure changed since I was a kid, but it still exists. Strong women are not well received culturally. Look at Hillary Clinton.