What a difference more women studying STEM would make

It was the 10th anniversary of UNESCO’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science this week, the theme being ‘Unpacking STEM Careers: Her Voice in Science’. It is 2025, but we still need a lot more of her voices in science

In New Zealand, a 2021 survey found that 41.5 percent of year 12 girls study STEM subjects. While that’s not bad, there’s a substantial drop off at the tertiary level where only 19.8 percent of women continue in those fields. This decline continues into postgraduate education, with only 4.6 percent pursuing a masters degree in STEM and 2.4 percent a PhD. This decline continues into senior STEM positions in research institutions, the number of lecturers, associate professors, professors and so on.

This matters, including to people outside research institutions. Diverse teams – including a gender balance – drive and inform problem-solving and innovation. We know that companies with higher gender diversity perform better financially and are more innovative. A lack of female representation in STEM can also lead to gender-biased research as well as the products and services that can come out of that research.

Healthcare is an area that has suffered from this lack of female representation, with female-specific health often overlooked. FemTech, or Female Technology, is a US$50 billion industry aiming to improve women’s health by increasing the range of health technologies specifically for women. These companies are often founded by women to address the gaps in healthcare.

We need to get smarter in the way we deliver healthcare

The health system is under pressure, with nearly 40 percent of patients waiting for more than four months for a first specialist assessment according to the latest quarterly performance report from Te Whatu Ora.

Digital health solutions are one way we can provide smarter healthcare. Digital health refers to the use of digital technologies to improve healthcare delivery, diagnosis, treatment, and overall patient outcomes. These services are typically provided online, via telehealth, or using at-home self-testing technologies.

Increasing patient care via digital channels has a range of benefits, including providing faster access to care, reducing wait times, bringing care closer to home, and delivering care that works better for patients and whānau.

Digital health is a trending area in FemTech

This includes better healthcare for women. A recent example in New Zealand is the roll-out of at home self-testing for HPV. This has resulted in an improvement in cervical cancer screening providing more choice, privacy and comfort, and offering cultural acceptability for many population groups. Since September 2023, more than 380,000 people have been tested. Of those, 80.8 percent had self tests, and of Māori and Pacific peoples tested, approximately 87 percent chose to self-test.

Another example of at-home testing is in the field of fertility and hormone health, where you can test for various hormone levels in the comfort of your own home. While these types of tests don’t necessarily prevent the need for follow-up healthcare services, they give individuals more control over their health and allow informed decision-making.

Internationally, the introduction of women’s health hubs, such as those in the UK are one mechanism where women in a community can access services, based on local needs. These community-based hubs are typically run by general practitioners, with good access to specialist referral but they are also embracing digital and home solutions. This model has received interest from larger GP practices in New Zealand.

One of the female-specific problems that urgently needs addressing is the lengthy waiting lists for gynaecological conditions, in New Zealand and particularly the UK. A recent report from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists focused on ‘gynaecology care in crisis’, noted “three quarters of a million women across the UK are now waiting for gynaecological treatment”. A report from Te Whatu Ora for Counties Manukau November 2024 cites a waiting time of 21 weeks for non-urgent gynaecological conditions.

Part of the way forward for all health care systems could be building on existing digital initiatives, funding new research and embracing innovation, as well as recognising the potential of AI. In those 21 weeks of waiting, a digital solution may be all that is needed.

Looking ahead

The future of healthcare will continue to evolve and improve through advancing technology, including digital and at-home devices that help individuals advocate for their own health.

But we need more women in positions to help develop these technologies that address health problems that are specific to women and girls. It is human nature to be alert to the issues and problems (including healthcare problems) that affect us; few of us would claim to be without an inherent bias, including our gender-based biases. Which is why we still need more women in STEM; their voices and their experiences will inform the future of healthcare and help ensure everyone’s health is accounted for.