| A reminder of our upcoming webinar – get your early bird tickets before they sell out. We’re sharing some important research on endometriosis, and careers tips for women in STEM 💜 |
Community Events 💜
Upcoming Webinar!
In just over a week, we’re hosting a live online webinar focused on: Resilience & Handling Failure as a Woman in STEM
We’re going to cover:
- Understand the different ways in which women in STEM face challenges with failure
- Strategies and practical tools for coping and building resilience
- Hear some real life experiences from women in STEM
📅 Date: Friday 6th February, 12pm
⏰ Length: 45 minutes
🎟️ Cost: Free (limited early bird tickets)
Full details at the link below! If resilience is something you’ve been struggling with recently, this might be the boost you need.
🎟️ Women in STEM: Handling Failure & Rejection
STEM in the News
Endometriosis affects an estimated 1 in 10 women, yet for decades it has been undiagnosed, underfunded, and ultimately dismissed. Many wait years for a diagnosis, feeling as though they must fight a battle to have their symptoms heard.
Excitingly, new studies are improving our understanding of the immune system involvement and potential genetic links. Researchers are also exploring non-invasive techniques for diagnosis, which could significantly reduce the reliance on invasive surgical diagnosis.
This is an incredible step towards earlier detection.
While there is still a long way to go, these advances represent meaningful momentum towards addressing a long-standing gender gap in medical research.
Career Corner ⭐️
Choosing a career that’s right for you
With so many options, choosing a career in STEM can feel particularly overwhelming and it’s so common to feel pressure to choose the right path early on. This one decision can feel as though it will define your entire working life but careers aren’t that straightforward.
Choosing a career that’s right for you should align with your interests, hobbies, and values; a job title or salary isn’t the most important thing. Ask yourself questions about whether you enjoy problem-solving or thrive more in collaborative or independent settings – these are just as important as technical skills.
It’s also important to remember that your interests will change overtime and redirection is not failure its evolution. It’s important to reassess your values periodically, as adapting and taking that step forward can lead you to a career that feels more sustainable and fulfilling.
STEMspiration ⭐️
Getting the salary you deserve
Research shows that women are significantly less likely to negotiate pay, promotions or benefits, not because of skills or ambition but due to structural and cultural barriers that penalise women for advocating for themselves. We want to help change this and provide you with tips to help beat this systemic challenge.
One of the most effective ways to approach a salary negotiation is preparation; research typical salary ranges for your role and sector, document your achievements and impact, and make it clear what value you bring to the organisation. Framing negotiation around contribution rather than personal need can help keep the conversation professional and evidence-based.
Another important factor is remembering that negotiation is a skill. It’s something that is often very uncomfortable at first, especially in environments where women are made to feel like advocating for themselves makes them appear “difficult” or “ungrateful” (been there!). Practicing your language in advance and seeking advice from peers can help reduce that discomfort. Negotiation is a normal part of professional life, and asking for fair compensation is not asking for special treatment.
We hope you’ll use these tips to advocate for yourself and go for that promotion with confidence!
| Get Involved |
| Got an idea for newsletter segments? Let us know by replying to this email! If you’re a STEM employer >> talk to me about your plans to improve inclusivity for women in STEM, let’s see how we can get you there together. If you’re a woman in STEM >> reach out and have your story featured! Young women need to see the generation of women before them working in industry to be inspired, that could be you! |
Thanks for being part of feminSTEM.
Erin 💜
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