Women with Autism in STEM

Leslie Campo Catalan, 2022

6 x 6 inches

Artist Statement

The underrepresentation of women in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields is a problem that continues to persist today. This matter makes it a more urgent issue for women on the autism spectrum. Although there has been slow progress, we need to keep advocating for equality, educating young girls about STEM, educating people about autism, and highlighting diverse STEM professionals. These efforts will help strengthen the sense of STEM belonging. Women with atypical neurological conditions may have different strengths and weaknesses than the general population, but it does not make them any less and they have the ability to succeed in their desired profession. She can be a doctor, she can be an engineer, she can be part of NASA, she can be a captain pilot, she can be anything she wants to be. Empowering women in STEM will help decrease the disparity for women entering these professions. The conceptual themes I am focusing on for this project are juxtaposition and women’s empowerment in STEM with autism, along with an aesthetic style of illustrated vector.

 

References:

https://www.templegrandin.com

‘The Mind Needs All Kind of Thinking’ https://www.ted.com/talks/temple_grandin_the_world_needs_all_kinds_of_minds/transcript?language=en

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6546643/

https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00235/full