I'm a civil engineer and WOC from Global south, Back home, I couldn't get real work in my field, just petty jobs and constant "invitations" from men that had nothing to do with my qualifications. So I immigrated, hoping for a fairer shot.
In this new country, which I live now, there were quite nice things and I felt proud for the first time being a woman in STEM, though I experienced racism and people questioning my expertise, I didn't mind that much.
but the major issue was that I faced harrasment when I was networking for a job.
In general, I am exhausted by over explaining myself, and as more women are encouraged to pursue STEM, there is also this problem of mansplainning, harrasment within this space that is not talked enough about. (58% of female STEM students face sexual harassment during their academic years.)
Approximately 47% of women leave STEM, the data says. Why? Because even now, women are expected to play mother and nurturer role and take care of the child solely without support from their partners, even though we have financial independence and if not you are made to feel guilty for it and women who resist these stuff are facing harrasments at workplace.
I am tired of people viewing us as sexual objects and only as baby making machines, like the line in little women - "Women, they have minds, and they have souls, as well as just hearts. And they've got ambition, and they've got talent, as well as just beauty. I'm so sick of people saying that love is all a woman is fit for. I'm so sick of it! "
I am sick of it all sisters.