We reached out to our Stemettes to ask them to share their STEM & STEAM dilemmas with us, so we could ask our wonderful role models to answer. To kick our Stemettes SOSs off, we got this question:
“How [do I] embrace feminine qualities while being in STEM? I find a lot of people want to view women in STEM as having a male brain and therefore want us to fit into the box of being boyish, leading to femininity being seen as a bad quality in STEM. How do I ensure I am not falling down this route again and lift other feminine people up doing STEM?”
Here’s what our role models said…
- You don’t have to trade femininity for credibility in STEAM. The strongest leaders aren’t the ones who fit the mould – they’re the ones who expand it. It can feel like a big step to take – but you should bring your full self to the room: your voice, your style, your way of thinking, and how you collaborate. Authenticity is powerful because it gives other people permission to do the same. When one person stops pretending to fit the stereotype, it quietly reshapes the culture for everyone else. STEAM needs different thinkers. We need to recognise that the qualities some people label as “feminine” are often real superpowers in a team. For example, communication is a superpower in technical spaces – the ability to explain complex ideas clearly can move a project forward faster than raw technical ability alone. Empathy helps you design solutions that actually work for real people, not just theoretical users. Creativity and intuition often lead to fresh ways of approaching problems that others might overlook. And emotional intelligence – understanding team dynamics and supporting others – is what turns good teams into great ones. Succeeding in STEAM isn’t about becoming more like the dominant culture. It’s about widening the space so more people can succeed in it. So show up fully, and back other women who do the same. Celebrate different ways of thinking. Every time you do that, you make STEAM a little bigger for everyone. – Kristy M
- STEM has been wrapped in the myth that success requires a certain “type”—usually someone quiet, neutral‑toned, and traditionally masculine. But the truth? STEM never needed clones, it needs colour. It needs creativity. It needs people who bring their identity with them, not hide it at the door. And that’s exactly what my career has taught me. When I joined Linx Printing Technologies in October 2024, I brought more than my technical skills into the building—I brought my full self. My love for expressive fashion, colourful clothing, and bold jewellery did not disappear just because I worked around equipment, assays, and analytical instruments. What did I learn? Confidence is contagious. When you show up and be yourself, others suddenly feel permission to do the same. In 2001, I helped transition a forensic DNA lab into full crime‑stain analysis and support UKAS accreditation. In 2020, I was a part of the Ventilator project with the UK government during the pandemic, this is a career built on bold choices — not conformity. I spent over seven years at Cambridge Consultants as a Lead Laboratory Technician, and previously at EL Science. So why does this matter for young women & non‑binary people? If you’re questioning whether STEM is a place where you’ll belong, here’s the truth: There is no one way to be a scientist, Engineer, Mathematician, or Technologist. You don’t have to trade femininity or gender expression for respect. Your identity isn’t a barrier—it’s a superpower. Use it be the brilliant human being you are.. Bring your colour. Bring your spark. Bring every part of who you are into your STEM journey. – Rae F
- It is important that you remember that there is no set shape or size for a STEM professional – this includes gender. The preconceived idea that women are weak in STEM areas is outdated, and as trailblazers in this industry, we should be redefining what a ‘professional’ looks like rather than adopting male-dominated norms. My best tip is to encourage authenticity in all engineers. Leading by example is an amazing way to ensure stereotypes are being broken. For me, I do this through the following: Workwear – We tend to fall into the trap of thinking professional workwear is a shirt and trousers, but this isn’t true. I love dopamine dressing – my favourite cardigan is a bright pink chunky knit, and whenever I need a confidence boost or I wear it with pride. Not because it’s overly feminine, but because it is what I like. And no one has ever commented negatively on it! Skill set – Recognising the skill set you have that your male colleagues may not have and how that diversifies the team. For me, I tend to be softer spoken and more patient than some of my male colleagues, which with certain clients is extremely useful. This also makes me a good mentor for younger colleagues. Women in STEM – Surround yourself with people who lift you up so you can lift others! Join women-in-STEM groups and share experiences, speak with male colleagues about your experiences and work with rule-breaking mentors who will push you to be the best STEM professional you can be! – Lauryn S
- Hi! I’m an electrical manufacturing engineer, and I’m also currently a Miss Wales finalist and I think this is a really good question because it’s kind of what I sense my advocacy around. So, a lot of times it’s seen that if women are in engineering, it’s this kind of male-dominated environment and you’ll almost have to be a bit manly in this environment, but it’s just not true at all. So, that’s kind of why I’m doing this is to prove that I can wear a dress, but I can still be an amazing engineer and I think the biggest way to combat that kind of misconception is by going out and proving people wrong. It’s by going out and doing an engineering job while wearing a dress and some heels. I think that’s the biggest way to combat that issue. – Candy
