ABSTRACT
Historically, women have made significant contributions and discoveries in STEM fields. Women have persisted in spite of obstacles, sustained by their love of the work and the excitement of discovery. In the 1950s, Rosalind Franklin made the significant hypothesis that the spine for DNA was external; word of it prior to publication enabled Crick and Watson to “discover” DNA and subsequently win the Nobel prize. Women have made great strides in educational attainment over the last few decades, now making up about 57% of students enrolled in undergraduate institutions. In recent years, girls-only STEM programs have sprung up throughout the country. In addition, girls overall earn similar numbers of credits in math and science in high school compared to boys, and girls actually have a higher GPA in math and science than boys do in high school.
