Belinda Pirtle, a Black woman who runs her own technical training company, says the small number of minorities in her field is not because a lack of aptitude. Instead, it’s because the way educators teach. “People learn differently but in the education field they only teach one way ... so if you have students who learn differently from the way it’s presented, they’re not going to get it because that’s not the way they learn.”
But the burden does not just lie with teachers. Jemison says the STEM industry as a whole must actively work to develop and recruit diverse workers.
Pirtle also thinks minority students need more role models. Other than Jemison, she couldn’t name any other Black female role model in science and technology.
However, the small numbers of women and minorities might be an asset for those looking to enter the STEM work force. “We’re underrepresented in the field, and that in itself makes us very attractive to hiring managers,” Pirtle says.
Jemison encourages young women and minorities interested in science and technology to believe in themselves: “Don’t let anybody tell you that you can’t do it, you can do it.”
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