Diana asked Shivangi Gandhi, BRD AddedFriday, April 3, 2020 at 7:41 AM How do I choose a major given the treatment of women in STEM? Hello! I am 20 years old and I recently dropped out of an architecture degree because I decided it's not for me. I left with the idea of pursuing computer science. But I went on a binge of reading scary articles explaining how awful the work environment is for women, and I got discouraged. I should mention that I'm not from the US and the percentage of women in computer science related majors in my country is around 35%, which I gather is quite good compared to other countries but I'm still worried. Another problem is that I have very diverse interests - I like math/programming, languages/humanities and also art/design. And I'm a "girly girl," I wear skirts 80% of the time and I feel like I won't fit in even with other women :( I feel like a strange creature for liking both math and fashion. Do you think that those problems are just me being prejudiced or are they real concerns? I'm super confused about what I should do in terms of my profession. Related to Choosing a Degree, Computer, Opportunities/Challenges for Women, Self Doubt, Social Concerns, Software, Work Environment Reset Sort By Default Shivangi Gandhi , BRD Answered Sunday, June 14, 2020 at 7:52 PM Hi Diana, It's wonderful that you want to stay within STEM. While your concerns are not unfounded, I'd still encourage you to stick with STEM. Having been in Engineering for over 15 years, it's extremely rewarding and I have never regretted the specialty I chose. I feel like I get paid to do something I love everyday! It almost seems unfair to other friends/family that don't like their jobs. Sure, you'll run into some bumps along the way, but as you persevere you'll become stronger. Why should you let society or someone else get in the way of *your* dreams?!? Hope that helps. Thanks.