CHARLES A. FRUEAUFF FOUNDATION.
>> THIS WEEK ON TO THE CONTRARY... FIRST, A SPIKE IN TRANSGENDER HATE CRIMES.
THEN ARE FEMALE C.E.O.S TARGETED UNFAIRLY?
BEHIND THE HEADLINES, BRINGING MORE AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN INTO STEM FIELDS.
[♪♪♪] >> HELLO I'M BONNIE ERBE WELCOME TO THE CONTRARY A DISCUSSION OF NEWS AND SOCIAL TRENDS FROM DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES.
UP FIRST, TRANSGENDER WOMEN.
PENNY PROUD IS THE LATEST OF AT LEAST FIVE TRANSGENDER WOMEN OF COLOR WHO HAVE BEEN THE TARGET OF ALLEGED HATE CRIMES SO FAR THIS YEAR.
THAT IS COMPARED WITH 12 FOR ALL OF LAST YEAR.
OUTRAGED ACTIVISTS ARE STAGING DIE-IN PROTESTS AND COMMUNICATING ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH THE HASHTAG #BLACKTANSLIVESMATTER IN RESPONSE TO THE TREND.
THEY SAY THEIR PLIGHT IS BEING IGNORED BY THE MEDIAN THE MAINSTREAM BLACK COMMUNITY THEY CHARGE THE MEDIA FREQUENTLY USE THE WRONG TERMINOLOGY DISRESPECTING TRANSPEOPLE AND THE MAINSTREAM BLACK COMMUNITY OFTEN FAILS TO INCLUDE THEM WHEN FIGHTING FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE.
WHY ARE WE SEEING SUCH A RISE IN THIS KIND OF CRIME?
>> I THINK BECAUSE WE ARE STARTING TO UNDERSTAND AS A SOCIETY THAT TRANSGENDER PEOPLE ARE ACTUAL PEOPLE AND WE ARE RECOGNIZING WHEN HORRIBLE VIOLENT THINGS HAPPEN TO THEM AND STANDING UP FOR THEM.
>> I THINK TRANSGENDER PEOPLE GLADLY STOPPED LIVING IN THE SHADOWS OF THE COUNTRY AND ARE OUT IN THE SOCIETY MORE AND WITH THAT COMES THE SCRUTINY AND THE SIDE EFFECTS OF PEOPLE WRONGLY ABUSING THEM AS WELL.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHY WE HAVE SEEN A SPIKE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR BUT I'M HOPING THAT IS ALL IT IS A TEMPORARY MOMENT AND NOT THE BEGINNING OF A LONG-TERM TREND.
>> IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE WHETHER PEOPLE ARE REPORTING THE INCIDENTS MORE OR IF IT'S THAT THERE IS A SPIKECH TO THE QUESTION OF DATA COLLECTION WHETHER OR NOT THIS IS NEW OR PEOPLE FEEL ENCOURAGED TO SHARE THEIR STORIES.
>> ONE OF THE ACTIVISTS CLAIMS THAT WE MENTIONED WAS THAT THE BLACK MAINSTREAM COMMUNITY DOESN'T CARE ABOUT IT IS NOT PAYING ENOUGH ATTENTION TO TRANSGENDER WOMEN.
IS THAT TRUE?
>> I DON'T THINK THAT THAT IS TRUE AND I'VE WRITTEN ON THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT MANY, MANY TIMES AND WHAT WE KNOW IS THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT IS LED BY QUEER, LGBT PEOPLE OF COLOR, SPECIFICALLY BLACK LESBIANS THAT STARTED THE SOCIAL MEDIA FORCE AROUND THIS.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND IS THAT ALL BLACK LIVES MATTER AND THAT IS THE CONVERSATION THAT WE THED TO BE HAVING AND NOT TRYING TO PIN ONE GROUP AGAINST THE OTHER.
RIGHT NOW IT IS A CONVERSATION ABOUT THREE WOMEN FIVE WOMEN WERE KILLED IN ONE MONTH.
THAT IS OUTRAGEOUS AND WE SHOULD BE HAVING A NATIONAL CONVERSATION ABOUT THAT.
>> IN ADDITION TO THE PROBLEM WITH TRANSGENDER WOMEN, BEING KILLED THERE'S ALSO A LOT -- THE POLICE MURDER BLACK LIVES MATTER ISSUE.
THERE HAVE BEEN 15 BLACK WOMEN KILLED IN THE PAST YEAR OR SO AND YET ALL THE ATTENTION IS GOING TO THE MEN ERIC GARNER AND THE MICHAEL BROWNS.
WHY IS THAT?
>> I THINK YOU KNOW, THE BLACK COMMUNITY IS A MICROCOSM OF THE AMERICAN COMMUNITY.
WE LEAVE IN A PAY INDUSTRY ASH CALC SOCIETY AND THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT MEN PERCOLATE TO THE TOP AND WE ARE NOT IMMUNE FROM THAT ISSUE.
>> IS THERE A MOVEMENT WITHIN THE MAINSTREAM PEOPLE OF COLOR COMMUNITY TO TRY TO GET THE WOMEN OUT THERE AND YOU KNOW, BLACK LIVES MATTER, BLACK WOMEN'S LIVES MATTER, BLACK TRANSGENDER LIVES MATTER, OR IS THAT NOT THE KIND OF ACTIVISM THAT IS GOING ON?
>> I THINK IT NEEDS TO BE THE KIND OF ACTIVISM THAT IS HAPPENING N GENERAL, I THINK WE'RE SEEING A MISSING VALUE OF LIVES.
WHERE THERE IS A MISUNDERSTANDING AND A MISTRUST PEOPLE ARE NOT RESPECTING ONE ANOTHER.
AND ALL LIVES ALL VIOLENCE AGAINST ANYONE SHOULD NOT BE SOMETHING THAT IS HAPPENING.
AND WHEN IT HAPPENS IT SHOULD BE CALLED OUT REGARDLESS OF WHO IS THE SUBJECT OF THAT VIOLENCE.
>> SO YOU WERE SAYING LIVING IN A PAY TREE ARCUAL SOCIETY HOW MUCH IS THE MEDIA AT FAULT?
>> THE MEDIA IS FAULT.
THERE IS A NARRATIVE BLACK EQUALS MALE AND WOMEN EQUALS WHITE AND IT'S HARD WHEN YOU DON'T FIT INTO THE BOXES.
>> TALK TO ME ABOUT THAT NARRATIVE.
>> I THINK IT IS A NORMAL NARRATIVE THAT WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH IN THE COUNTRY FOREVER IN TERMS OF HOW WE CONTEXTUALIZE CHALLENGES IN THE COUNTRY.
AND WE THINK OF GENDER, THE FRAME THAT WE HAVE IN OUR MINDS IS THAT OF A WHITE WOMAN'S PERSPECTIVE AND WE DON'T DIG INTO THE SPECIFIC CHALLENGES THAT THE WOMEN OF COLOR FACE LIKE ISSUES OF RACE WE OFTENTIMES THINK OF MEN PARTICULARLY BLACK MEN AND THE PARTICULAR CHALLENGES THEY FACE.
IT'S HARD FOR THE INTERSECTIONAL STORY TO BE TOLD AND WE HAVE TO DO A BETTER JOB.
>> AND TO PIGGY BACK OFF THAT THE IDEA THAT WE HAVE TO BREAKDOWN THE STEREOTYPES AROUND BLACK MEN AND BLACK MEN BEING DANGEROUS.
BLACK WOMEN DON'T HAVE THAT SAME CONCONNOTATION THAT THEY ARE DANGEROUS AND IF YOU SEE THEM YOU FEAR FOR YOUR LIFE.
AND SHOOT FIRST AND ASK QUESTIONS LATER.
WHILE THERE HAVE BEEN 15 WOMEN AND I'M SURE THE NUMBERS ARE HIGHER, THE IDEA HAS BEEN WHEN YOU SEE BLACK MEN PEOPLE FEEL DANGER AND THE POLICE OFFICERS THAT ARE ARMED FOR SOME REASON FEEL THEIR LIVES ARE IN DANGER AND CAN TAKE THAT PERSON OUT.
THAT IS A BROADER CONVERSATION ABOUT STEREOTYPE AND HOW WE GENDER PEOPLE AND HOW WE RACIALIZE SITUATIONS BECAUSE OF WHAT OUR NORMALIZED THINKING AROUND WHAT IS GOOD AND WHAT IS BAD.
>> NO DOUBT.
>> I THINK THIS IS TERRIBLY SAD SOMEBODY NOT PART OF THE BLACK COMMUNITY WATCHING IT FROM THE OUTSIDE IS GRIPPING BECAUSE IT CAN HAPPEN IN ANY COMMUNITY.
BUT THE BLACK COMMUNITY SUFFERS FROM THIS MISCHARACTERIZATION BECAUSE THE POLICE OFFICERS AND I WILL NOT SAY WHAT RACE BUT WALKING IN A COMMUNITY WHEN YOU ARE ARRESTING 50 BLACK GUYS, YOU ARE GOING TO THINK THAT EVERY BLACK MAN IS DANGEROUS.
WHEN HEY SEE THE WOMEN THEY ARE NOT SURE HOW TO REACT.
THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THIS IS THE COMMUNITY RELATIONSHIPS THE LAW ENFORCEMENT HAS TO BUILD RELATIONSHIPS WITH WOMEN AND MEN IN THE COMMUNITY THAT ARE NOT DANGEROUS AND IT CAN BRING UNDERSTANDING AND EDUCATION DEALING WITH THE TENSE SITUATIONS.
>> LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.
PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER @BONNIEERBE.
FROM SOCIAL JUSTICE TO CORPORATE FAIRNESS.
>> A FIRST FOR THE BIG FOUR ACCOUNTING AND CONSULTING FIRMS.
DELOITTE NAMED CATHY ENGELBERT AS ITS FIRST FEMALE C.E.O.
BUT SHE MAYBE LOOKING OVER OTHER SHOULDER FOR ACTIVIST INVESTORS THE SHAREHOLDERS WHO PRESSURE COMPANIES TO CHANGE AT LEAST A QUARTER OF THE WOMEN C.E.O.S OF S&P 500 COMPANIES HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED BY ACTIVIST VEST INVESTORS.
THAT IS A HIGHER RATE THAN MALES.
MARISSA MEYER IS THE LATEST C.E.O.
TO FACE SCRUTINY FROM ACTIVIST SHAREHOLDERS.
SOME ALLEGED ACTIVIST INVESTORS HAVE A WOMAN PROBLEM AND THEY SAY THEIR MOTIVES ARE FINANCIAL HAVING NOTHING TO DO WITH GENDER.
THERE IS ANOTHER EXPLANATION.
THE GLASS CLIFF THEORY.
WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE APPOINTED AS C.E.O.S OF COMPANIES THAT ARE STRUGGLING.
THIS MEANS THAT THEY ARE MORE LIKELY TO FACE ACTION FROM ACTIVIST INVESTORS BECAUSE THE COMPANY WAS NOT DOING WELL TO BEGIN WITH.
SO PATRICE, IS IT A GENDER ISSUE HERE?
IS THERE GENDER BIAS AND DISCRIMINATION?
OR IS IT JUST THAT WOMEN ARE TAKING OVER COMPANIES LIKE MARISSA MEYER AND Yahoo!
THAT ARE FAILING AND THAT IS THE ONLY COMPANY THAT WILL TAKE A RISK ON A WOMAN C.E.O.?
>> IT'S POSSIBLE BOTH ARE OCCURRING HERE.
I MEAN AT THE END OF THE DAY THESE INVESTORS ARE LOOKING TOWARDS THE BOTTOM LINE.
AND RESEARCH SHOWS THAT WOMEN-OWNED COMPANIES THE STOCK PRICES OUTPERFORM MEN-OWNED COMPANIES.
YOU DON'T WANT TO CUT YOUR WALLET BY INDUCING YOUR OWN GENDER BIASES.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME IF WOMEN ARE GETTING INTO SOME OF THE STRUGGLING COMPANIES, WE ARE GOING TO CHEER ON THE GLADIATORS.
TO ALL THE WOMEN WHO ARE ABLE TO TURN AROUND A COMPANY THAT SAYS SOMEONE BELIEVES WE ARE CAPABLE AND ABLE TO DRAW ON THE UNIQUE ABILITIES THAT WE HAVE TO GET SOMETHING DONE E THAT IS AN UNFORTUNATE REALITY THAT WOMEN FACE AND PEOPLE OF COLOR FACE, THAT OFTENTIMES WHEN YOU ARE APPOINTED TO THE POSITIONS YOU ARE IN A SITUATION WHERE THE COMPANY IS ALREADY AT PERIL.
LOOK AT THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES LOOK WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE PREVIOUS PRESIDENT.
WOULD WE HAVE A BLACK PRESIDENT IF WE DIDN'T HAVE A PRESIDENT THAT TOOK THIS COUNTRY TO THE BRINK?
IT IS A CONSTANT THING WE SEE AND PUTTING PEOPLE IN UNFAIR SITUATIONS WHERE THEY HAVE TO MAKE A MIRACLE HAPPEN IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO STAY IN THEIR POSITIONS AND IT'S JUST NOT RIGHT.
>> I THINK WOMEN ARE BEING SETUP TO FAIL AT THESE CORPORATIONS.
>> MARISSA MEYER HAS LOOK AT Yahoo!
AND SHE TURNED IT AROUND.
>> AND SHE IS WALKING ON A TIGHT ROPE, RIGHT?
SHE IS BUYING AND INVESTING IN COMPANY TECH COMPANIES OVERSEAS AND THE START UP COMPANIES BRINGING IN BILLIONS DOLLARS INTO Yahoo!
BUT SHE IS WALKING A TIGHT ROPE AND I WONDER IF A MAN HAD TAKEN OVER IF THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN GIVING THE LEEWAY TO SEE A TURNAROUND.
I FEEL LIKE WHEN WOMEN ARE PUT IN PLACES IN A LEADERSHIP ROLE THAT THERE IS A MAGIC MOMENT THAT IS SUPPOSED TO HAPPEN.
AND THE SAME THING WE SAW WITH THE PRESIDENT.
THAT BY MAGIC ALL OF A SUDDEN THE COUNTRY IS SUPPOSED TO TURN AROUND AFTER EIGHT YEARS OF GOING OVER A CLIFF.
WE HAVE TO HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS AND THESE INVESTORS IF THEY CARE ABOUT THE BOTTOM LINE THEY NEED TO CREATE A STRATEGIC TIME LINE SO THAT THE WOMEN CAN BE SUCCESSFUL.
>> WHAT ABOUT PEPSI CO?
>> SHE CAME IN UNDER DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES.
MARISSA MEYER CAME UNDER THE BANNER HOW IS SHE GOING TO MANAGE WORK LIFE, CHILDREN, THES OFFICE THE HEAD OF THIS MASSIVE THING.
AND THE OTHER IS OLDER AND WISER AND IMMIGRANT WOMAN AS WELL A WOMAN WHO COMES FROM A LOT OF INDIAN AMERICANS ARE PERCEIVED TO BE IN THE INTELLECTUAL ROLES.
SHE EARNED HER WAY THERE INSTEAD OF STEPPING INTO SOMETHING.
OVERALL, YES -- >> ACTIVISM -- >> I DON'T THINK SHE HAS FACED IT AS BAD.
SHE HAS NOT FACED IT AND BECAUSE SHE IS OLDER, TOO.
AND THAT IS PEOPLE THINK SHE IS WISER AND HAS HAD REAL SUCCESSES AND SHE IS AN ANOMALY HERE.
>> WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT COMPANIES LIKE PEPSI AND COCA-COLA, IS SHE HELPED BY THE FACT THAT SO MUCH OF THE MARKET, I IMAGINE THAT THEY ARE SELLING MORE BOTTLES OF PEPSI IN INDIA THAN THEY ARE IN THE U.S. >> WELL, I THINK THAT THERE'S AN ELEMENT TO THAT.
THERE IS ATE GLOBAL SPHERE THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT AS THE AMERICAN C.E.O.S WE ARE HOLDING THEM IN MORE BECAUSE OF THE SOCIEITAL SHIFT WE ARE HAVING AND SEEING WOMEN WANTING TO BE MORE THAN A HOUSE MOTHER A HOMEMAKER.
BUT I THINK YES YOU ARE RIGHT.
THE GLOBAL C.E.O.
HAS A LESS OF A CHALLENGE THAN OUR AMERICAN C.E.O.
AND WHAT WE ARE DOING TO THE WOMEN C.E.O.S IS WAITING FOR THEM TO FAIL.
MARISTHE MENTAL EXISTS AND IT IS A 1950s THING THAT WOMEN ARE NURTURERS THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE AGGRESSIVE AND ABRAYSIVE.
AND I THINK THAT IS FALSE.
THERE ARE ENOUGH WOMEN WILL THAT FIGHT BACK AT INVESTORS WHO WILL SAY SHE IS NOT GOING TO FIGHT WHEN WE PUT UP A FIGHT TO HER.
>> WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH ACTIVIST INVESTORS AS A WOMAN?
AT HB MEG WHITMAN PUT ONE ON HER BOARD.
WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO PUT SOMEONE ON MY BOARD THAT WANTS TO TAKE ME OUT.
>> YOU PUT THEM ON BECAUSE THEY WILL BRING A WEIGHT TO THE JOB AND BRING FINANCES OR RESOURCES MAYBE THERE IS SOME SORT OF LONG-TERM PLAY THERE.
>> BUT I IMAGINE AND I DON'T KNOW FOR A FACT BUT SHE PUT THE PERSON ON THE BOARD TO SHUT THE PERSON UP ESSENTIALLY, RIGHT?
AREN'T THERE -- CAN'T YOU BUYOUT THEIR STOCK FROM UNDER THEM?
>> TYPICALLY THEY OWN THE MAJORITY AND A LITTLE BIT MORE THAN THAT.
IN TERMS OF THE STOCK OWNERSHIP.
UNLESS YOU CAN RAISE THAT KIND I HAVE CAPITAL AND REMOVE THEM IT'S DIFFICULT.
>> I'M NOT SURE WHEN YOU HAVE HUGE COMPANIES LIKE HP, A LOT OWN 3 OR 4% AND THAT IS A HUGE THAT MAY BE BILLION DOLLARS WORTH OF STOCK BUT IT'S NOT MORE THAN HALF.
>> BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT OTHER CONNECTIONS THAT PERSON HAS.
I'M SURE THERE ARE POLITICAL REASONS BEHIND THE SCENES THAT WE ARE UNAWARE OF THAT MADE HER DO THIS.
I CAN ASSURE YOU IT WAS NOT AN EASY DECISION FOR HER.
>> I THINK IT WAS A SMART ONE.
BECAUSE IF YOU ARE ON A BOARD THEN YOU HAVE A CERTAIN RESPONSIBILITY TO THE SUCCESS OF THAT ORGANIZATION OF THAT CORPORATION.
AND I THINK THAT BY DOING THAT, IT'S LIKE OK, IF YOU ARE PUTTING YOUR MONEY WITH YOUR MOUTH IS LET'S PUT YOUR LEADERSHIP AND THOUGHT AND STRATEGY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS AS WELL.
AND DOING THAT, WAS PROBABLY THE SHREWDEST MOVE SHE COULD HAVE MADE.
>> YOU THINK A WOMAN C.E.O.
IS MORE LIKELY TO REACT THAT WAY THAN A MAN?
>> PROBABLY, A MAN IS MORE LIKELY TO WALK AWAY WHEN SOMETHING GETS TOUGH AND TRY AND SHUT THAT PERSON DOWN AND THAT IS WHY WOMEN C.E.O.S ARE MORE SUCCESSFUL.
>> I SEE THE OPPOSITE.
BUT I THINK IT IS A GOOD TACTIC.
I THINK WE ARE STILL PERCEIVED LARGELY TO SEE WINDSHIELD-WIPER AS I WILL WALK AWAY AND LET'S GENTLY DEAL WITH THIS.
WE HAVE SEEN MEN NOT AFRAID TO SIT FACE-TO-FACE WITH THAT PERSON AND HAVE THAT TOUGH CONVERSATION BUT YOU ARE RIGHT WOMEN ARE CHANGING.
>> AND SO ARE MEN.
BEHIND THE HEADLINES WOMEN MAKEUP 27% OF THE STEM OR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH WORKFORCE.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN REPRESENT FEWER THAN 5% OF THAT GROUP.
AS PART OF OUR BLACK HISTORY MONTH COVERAGE WE LOOK AT THE LACK OF DIVERSITY IN THOSE INDUSTRIES.
>> I HAD NEVER SEEN A BLACK FEMALE ENGINEER UNTIL I WAS IN GRADUATE SCHOOL.
I WENT TO THE CONFERENCEFY SAW A PROFESSIONAL WOMAN IN A SUIT I WAS JUST SO HAPPY THAT WAS VERY IMPORTANT TO ME TO KNOW THAT AT LEAST THEY EXISTED.
>> Dr. PAMELA McCAULEY WAS RECENTLY HONOURED AS BLACK ENGINEER OF THE YEAR.
SHE IS ONE OF A HANDFUL OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN WHO ARE TENURED ENGINEERING PROFESSORS IN THE U.S McCAULEY LECTURES AT SCHOOLS ABOUT OVERCOMING OBSTACLES.
AS A TEEN MOM FROM A SMALL TOWN SHE DID NOT LET HER CIRCUMSTANCES DESTROY HER DREAMS.
>> WE NEED IT TO PROVIDE EXPOSURE FOR OUR CHILDREN.
I NEVER SEEN A BLACK FEMALE ENGINEER SOMETHING INSIDE ME MADE ME BELIEVE I COULD DO IT.
>> ONE IN SEVEN ENGINEERS IS A WOMEN.
WOMEN HOLD LESS THAN 30% OF COMPUTER SCIENCE JOBS.
RESEARCHERS FOUND WHILE SOME WOMEN ASSOCIATE CAREERS IN STEM WITH WHITE MALES OTHERS ESTABLISHED IN THE FIELD, LEAVE PARTLY DUE TO HOSTILE WORK ENVIRONMENTS AND DISCRIMINATION.
>> WE DON'T FEEL LIKE IT IS A CAREER FOR WOMEN.
AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN ARE 2% OF THE ENGINEERS TODAY.
MOST DISCONCERT SOMETHING WHEN THEY LEAVE THE FIELD BECAUSE THEY FEEL MARGINALIZED OR DON'T FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT SOME OF THE COUNTERPARTS HAVE.
I SAY DON'T GO.
STATUS AND DYNAMICS, THERMODYNAMICS WHERE ARE YOU GOING?
IF YOU SURVIVE THOSE THINGS IT IS POSSIBLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MANAGE AND NAVIGATE THROUGH YOUR CAREER.
>> RETENTION IS NOT JUST AS ISSUE IN THE WORKPLACE BUT A PROBLEM IN SCHOOLS.
PAMELA McCAULEY SUGGESTS ENCOURAGING GIRLS TO TAKE SCIENCE AND MATH AT AN EARLY AGE.
WILL YOU SEE SECOND AND THIRD GRADE SCHOOLS SAYING THEY WILL BE A ASTRONAUT AND DOCTOR AND MISS AMERICA, TOO.
THEY HAVE THAT OPEN AND RECEPTIVE MINDSET AND ARE VERY WILLING TO CONSIDER THE MORE TECHNICAL AND CHALLENGING PROFESSIONS.
>> PAMELA McCAULEY SAYS IN MIDDLE SCHOOL GIRLS' PERCEPTIONS CHANGE AND MAY NOT SEE ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL FIELDS AS GOOD PROFESSIONS FOR THEM.
>> HELP THEM UNDERSTAND HOW RELEVANT IT IS.
THE COLOR OF MY LIPSTICK, THE SCIENCE WENT INTO THIS.
THE CLOTHING I WEAR AND THE AIRPLANE THAT I FLEW IN.
THERE ARE SO MANY RELEVANT THINGS THAT WE DO AND EVERYWHERE YOU LOOK YOU ARE TOUCHING SOMETHING THAT IS STEM RELATED.
>> CONNECTING REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCES TO STEM IS PART OF THE SOLUTION.
A PILOT PROGRAM IS UNDERWAY WITH THE GOAL OF CREATING MORE INCLUSIVE CURRICULUM AND HELPING FACULTY BOND WITH MINORITY WOMEN.
PAMELA McCAULEY RECOMMENDS TRAINING FACULTY HOW TO ADDRESS STUDENTS WHO MAY BE THE ONLY MINORITY IN THE ROOM.
>> THERE IS OFTENTIMES INHERENT BIAS IN OUR INTERACTION AND EXPECTATION ASSOCIATED WITH STUDENTS WHO ARE FEMALES OR OF COLOR.
IT HELPS TO HAVE SOMEONE FROM THE OUTSIDE WHO SAY STEM PROFESSIONAL TO SAY TO THE STUDENT I WENT THROUGH THE SAME THING YOU ARE LUCKY YOU ARE HERE.
>> PAMELA McCAULEY ENCOURAGES MENTORSHIP AND SAYS YOUNG WOMEN SHOULD CONSIDER MENTORS WHO MAY NOT LOOK LIKE THEM.
>> WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE SHOULD BE COMFORTABLE IN ASKING PEOPLE TO MENTOR US IF THEY ARE IN THE DISCIPLINES WE ARE INTERESTED IN AND IT WOULD BE WONDERFUL TO HAVE A BLACK FEMALE TO MENTOR YOU BECAUSE SHE CAN HELP YOU UNDERSTAND CERTAIN THINGS THAT ONLY A BLACK WOMEN MAY EXPERIENCE.
IT'S IMPORTANT NOT TO LIMIT OURSELVESTH THAT.
>> THOUGH THE NUMBERS ARE QUITE LOW, THE NUMBER OF WOMEN OF COLOR ENTERING STEM FIELDS IS ON THE RISE.
>> OF THE 30 FASTEST GROWING PROFESSIONS 15 ARE STEM RELATED.
THE SALARIES ARE COMPETITIVE.
THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND I'M HOPEFUL AS WE SEE MORE AND MORE WOMEN OF COLOR AND WOMEN AND PEOPLE OF COLOR IN STEM PROFESSIONS THAT WILL YOU START TO SEE MORE OF THOSE CLASS CEILINGS BROKEN.
>> AMAZING WOMAN TO COME FROM THE BACKGROUND AND GET WHERE SHE HAS GOTTEN TO.
AMAZING.
SO WHY AREN'T MORE YOUNG AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN DOING THAT?
>> I THINK SHE HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD.
WHEN THE GIRLS ARE SMALL SOMETHING HAPPENS TO THEM AS THEY NAVIGATE THROUGH THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND THEIR DREAMS GET STUNTED AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE REACH OUT TO YOUNG GIRLS AND LET THEM KNOW THEY CAN DO ANYTHING.
AND LET THEM SEE HOW RELEVANT THINGS ARE.
BLACK GIRLS CODE IS VERY IMPORTANT WE NEED TO LET THEM KNOW WHEN THE SKY IS THE LIMIT AND IN SITUATIONS MAKE SURE THEY ARE SUPPORTED TO STAY THERE AND THRIVE.
>> I WOULD IMAGINE THAT THERE ARE A LOT MORE YOUNG INDIAN WINDSHIELD-WIPER IN THESE -- WOMEN IN THESE FIELDS AND SUCCEEDING PERCENTAGE WISE.
>> PARENTS WHO FEEL THAT CAREERS IN SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND MATH THAT IS EVERYTHING THAT AN INDIAN-AMERICAN FIRST GENERATION CHILD SHOULD BE PURSUING AND THIS STORY IS DEEPLY PERSONAL BECAUSE I DROPPED OUT OF ENGINEERING AND IT WAS REALLY HAR.
I WISH I MET HER 10 YEARS AGO.
>> WHY DID YOU DROPOUT?
>> I DIDN'T FEEL THERE WAS A PLACE FOR ME.
I DID NOT SEE ANYBODY OF COLOR.
THE FALL OF 200130 PEOPLE FIVE ARE FEMALE AND I AM THE ONLY PERSON OF COLOR.
AND IT WAS A MAJOR STATE SCHOOL AND I LOVED EVERY EXPERIENCE I HAD A SCHOLARSHIP AND THREE YEARS LATER I DROPPED OUT.
>> WOW.
AND YOU WISH YOU COULD GO BACK?
>> I WISH ALL THE TIME.
I HAD THAT CONVERSATION WITH MY FOLKS ALL THE TIME AND I TELL THEM I BECAME A POLITICAL STRATEGIST BECAUSE I LOVE NUMBERS AND GOT INVOLVED WITH GIRLS WHO CODE AND STEM ORGANIZATIONS, I AM AN ACTIVE MEMBER AND I LOVE IT I HAVE BEEN DOING IT OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT ANY GIRL TO FEEL LIKE THERE WAS NOT A PLACE FOR HER.
AND AT THAT TIME I DID NOT SEE ANYBODY LIKE ME I DIDN'T FEEL VALUED I DIDN'T FEEL IT WAS FOR ME.
SO I WALKED AWAY FROM IT AND I PASSED CALCK.
>> YOU PASSED ALL THE TOUGH STUFF AND EARNED A SCHOLARSHIP AND GAVE IT UP AND I HAVE DEEP REGRET FOR THAT.
GETTING INVOLVED IN THE STEM INITIATIVES IS EVERYTHING TO MAKE SURE IF ONE DAY I HAVE A DAUGHTER.
>> THE REGRET TO BE WITH YOUR STATE SCHOOL THAT ALLOWED THAT TO HAPPEN.
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WE ARE MISSING WITH THE REASON WHY WOMEN OF COLOR DON'T GET INVOLVED IS BECAUSE THERE IS NO COMPETENCY TRAINING TO SUPPORT US.
HAD YOU BEEN SUPPORTED AND GIVEN A MENTOR FROM WALKING IN THE DOOR TO CULTIVATE YOU AND TO WALK YOU THROUGH EMOTIONALLY THE PROCESS OF BEING THE ONLY ONE.
AS SOMEBODY I WAS NOT AN ENGINEER BUT SOMEBODY WHO GREW UP IN AN ALL WHITE 96% SUBURB ON ONGOING ISLAND NEW YORK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO DEAL WITH BEING THE ONLY ONE THAT IS IN THE ROOM.
IT IS SOMETHING VERY TRYING ON YOURSELF ESTEEM.
>> LET'S BREAKDOWN STEM FOR A MOMENT.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH.
SO THE SCIENCE PART, YOU HAVE MEDICINE WHERE WOMEN ARE NOW HALF OF ALL MEDICAL STUDENTS.
AND I'M SURE THE PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN OF COLOR IN MEDICINE IS MUCH HIGHER THAN IT IS IN ENGINEERING.
SO WHAT IS IT ABOUT THE HARD SCIENCE AND THE TECH FIELDS THAT SEEM TO BE PUSHING WOMEN OF COLOR AND WOMEN OVERALL, AWAY?
>> I MEAN IT COULD BE THERE'S NOT AN APPRECIATION FOSTERED AT A YOUNGER AGE AND TO THE POINT OF WHEN YOU ARE YOUNG YOU ARE INTERESTED IN SCIENCES AND HOW THINGS WORK AND GROWING THINGS AND AND THE SCIENCE BEHIND TONIGHT SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY WE MISS THAT.
AND I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO RECOGNIZE CHOICE.
IT IS GREAT TO EXPOSE YOUNG WOMEN TO LOTS OF DIFFERENT THINGS AND SCIENCES AND MATH AND LET THEM MAKE THE CHOICE AND SHOW THEM THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES THEY CAN PURSUE.
IF THEY DECIDE TO GO INTO THE SOFT SCIENCES THAT IS A CHOICE I MADE BECAUSE I DID NOT LIKE THE HARD SCIENCES AND WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DON'T FALL INTO THE TRAP.
>> ARE YOU SAYING THAT GIRLS ARE LESS LIKELY ON AVERAGE THAN BOYS TO DISLIKE -- THEY ARE LESS LIKELY TO LIKE THE HARD SCIENCES.
>> NOT AT ALL.
I'M SAYING THAT WE SHOULD HAVE A CHOICE.
AND THERE MAY BE A LOT OF YOUNG GIRLS WHO SAY I AM INTERESTED IN SOMETHING AND I'M INTERESTED IN COUNSELING OR PSYCHOLOGY AND WE HAVE TO RESPECT THAT CHOICE AS WELL.
>> THERE IS RESEARCH THAT SUGGESTS THAT WHEN THERE ARE WOMEN OF COLOR IN THESE HARD SCIENCE FIELDS THEY ARE NOT SUPPORTED THEY ARE NOT INVITED INTO STUDY GROUPS AND ARE NOT GIVEN CHALLENGING ASSIGNMENTS THEY ARE ASSUMED TO BE LESS CAPABLE ALL OF THOSE THINGS LEAVE EXTRA EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE THAT THEY HAVE TO WORK THROUGH WITH THE HEAVY BURDEN OF THE ACADEMICS THEY ARE DEALING WITH.
IT CREATES A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT THAT IS HARD TO NAVIGATE THROUGH.
>> AND LET'S GO DOWN THE TOY AISLE FOR A MINUTE WHICH I COME BACK TO IN THE CLIP Dr. McCAULEY TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT YOUNG GIRLS IN SECOND GRADE THEY CAN DO THE WORLD AND YOU WALK DOWN A TOY AISLE EVERYTHING IS GENDER, PLAY WITH DOLLS AND BOYS GET DIRTY AND BUILD THINGS THAT IS THE SETUP FOR HARD SCIENCES.
>> AND THAT HAS TO CHANGE.
PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER AND VISIT OUR WEBSITE, PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.
AND WHETHER YOU AGREE OR THINK TO THE CONTRARY, SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
CARPENTER FOUNDATION AND THE CHARLES A. FRUEAUFF FOUNDATION.
FOR A TRANSCRIPT OR TO SEE AN ON-LINE VERSION OF THIS EPISODE OF THE TO THE CONTRARY VISIT OUR PBS WEBSITE AT PBS.ORG/TOTHECONTRARY.
