Gender mainstreaming STEM in Asean

Women and girls in STEM. 2026 marks the 11th year of the International Day for Women and Girls in Science. While this topic has been the subject of many studies, the fact that women still need to be recognized and celebrated reflects the hardships and prejudices they continue to face.

A 2022 policy brief on the Association of Southeast Asian Nations’ Women’s Participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) prepared by Asean and the United States Agency for International Development notes that in the region, women and girls often have higher mathematics and science achievements than boys but rarely pursue further education in STEM because of the social prejudices against women who pursue science and technology. Women and girls with disabilities are also affected, as traditional STEM education involves fieldwork and laboratory work. The barriers in place, both physical and social, prevent women and girls from seeing STEM as a viable career option. It is not a question of whether women can, as it has been statistically proven that they contribute significantly to science with limited resources—it is a matter of how they can be better integrated and supported in STEM.

Women’s participation in science is not just notable because of the intrinsic scientific value they contribute, but more importantly because of their impact on society and beyond. Examples of leading Asean women in STEM: Fe del Mundo, a Filipino pediatrician who established the first children’s hospital in the Philippines; Gloria Lim, a Singaporean mycologist who put the study of fungi on the map by finding solutions for mold problems; Margaret Lin Xavier, considered the first female Thai doctor who made it her life’s mission to serve marginalized women through her free clinic; and many others who paved the way and uplifted communities. Filipina sociologist Gelia Castillo said it best: “Science must serve a human purpose.” Women and girls who participate in STEM do not just contribute to the field, but to the larger world around it.

Addressing the barriers. In celebration of the International Day for Women and Girls in Science on Feb. 11, I also wish to highlight some initiatives to address these barriers.

In the organizations that I lead, the Philippine Women’s Economic Network and the Philippine Business Coalition for Women Empowerment (PBCWE), we are committed to ensuring that women are given equal access to STEM programs and initiatives. In 2017, PhilWEN provided inputs to the Action Agenda on Mainstreaming Women’s Economic Empowerment in Asean, highlighting that women’s economic empowerment happens when their participation in STEM and information and communications technology is promoted in all Asean member states. In its policy paper titled ”Asean Through a Gender Lens,” launched in 2021, PhilWEN further proposed that Asean focus on creating science and technology education programs for women, either through apprenticeships or ICT upskilling, to eliminate existing barriers and increase women’s employment in science and technology. In November 2019, the PBCWE, in partnership with Unilab Foundation’s STEM+PH and the University of the Philippines Center for Women and Gender Studies, published a baseline study on Women in STEM, which examined the gender dimensions of the STEM economy. The study proposed that gender sensitivity training be institutionalized in the studied organizations and for various government agencies, for-profit and nonprofit organizations, and academic institutions form partnerships to increase the participation of women in STEM industries.

Asean 2026. The theme of this year’s International Day for Women and Girls in Science is “Synergizing AI, Social Science, STEM and Finance: Building Inclusive Futures for Women and Girls,” which perfectly encapsulates Asean’s thrust for gender mainstreaming. As the chair of Asean this year, the Philippines should continue efforts to advance the participation of women and girls in STEM in the Asean Economic Community. People empowerment, as a vital pillar of the Philippine chairship, is the perfect avenue to promote the gender mainstreaming agenda adopted by Asean leaders in 2017, when the country was likewise the Asean chair. This is an opportune time to review existing Asean documents, including the 2017 Action Agenda, to track progress, identify gaps, and guarantee that gender mainstreaming is made a priority, ensuring that no one is left behind.

When women are given the space to thrive, they give back and establish legacies that have a lasting impact. Let us not stop at simply celebrating women in science but ensure that women and girls are given access to quality STEM education and the ability to choose their desired career path without fear of marginalization.

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See Also

Mission in tandem

Ma. Aurora “Boots” D. Geotina-Garcia is the founding chair and president of PhilWEN and the chair of the governing council of PBCWE. She is the first female chair of the Bases Conversion & Development Authority.

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Women Who Lead is an initiative of PhilWEN.