Million Women Mentors launches in United States

A newly launched collaborative effort, Million Women Mentors (MWM), aims to engage one million science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) mentors in the United States in the hopes of educating and empowering girls and young women to actively pursue STEM education and careers.

WASHINGTON, D.C.

In conjunction with National Mentoring Month, MWM has constructed a vast network of 13 corporate sponsors, and more than 40 partner organizations that are dedicated to cultivating multiple pathways of mentoring to bolster girls’ confidence and increase access to professionals working in the STEM field. Collectively, these public-private entities represent more than 18 million women and girls.

“We need to do more than just tell young girls that they can be engineers, rocket scientists, or computer programmers. Mentors can inspire girls and give them an insider’s view of what it’s like to work in STEM,” said Linda D. Hallman, executive director and chief executive officer of the American Association of University Women.

“Career options in STEM disciplines are endless, but we won’t reach our full potential as a nation until women and underrepresented groups are fully included.”

Women comprise more than 20 per cent of engineering school graduates, though 11 per cent of practicing engineers are women. Of 100 female bachelor students, 12 graduate with a STEM major but only three continue to work in STEM fields 10 years after graduation.

Although women fill close to half of all jobs in the U.S. economy, they hold less than 25 per cent of STEM jobs.

The Jan. 8 launch of the organization includes the debut of its website, www.millionwomenmentors.org, which will be developed in phases with Tata Consultancy Services. The first phase will include a nationwide call to action to capture and pledge commitments from individuals, organizations and companies that have an interest in mentoring. In the second and third phases, the website will be enhanced with matching capabilities to pair mentors with mentees in STEM fields. Additionally, the site will recognize those with model mentoring programs and learning resources.