Despite progress, work is still needed to eliminate the gender gap | Julia McKeithan

International Women’s Day is Friday, March 8. Its purpose is to see a gender-neutral world and workplaces where everyone has equal enjoyment of opportunities, resources and rewards.  

In my 27-year technical and manufacturing career, I have seen great progress. In 2009, I was promoted to site operations manager for my company’s Wilmington, NC, manufacturing facility. I attended global meetings and realized I was a “unicorn” as I was one of the very few female site leaders. Fifteen years later, that has changed significantly, not just in my company but across a broad range of industries. 

But a significant “gender gap” still exists when it comes to girls and STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and math) at school. If a young girl shows interest in one of those disciplines, chances are they will also be a “unicorn.” Many of the female engineers and scientists I work with at Heraeus would tell me they were often one of only a handful of women majoring in that course of study in college. 

I believe the first step in solving the STEM gender gap starts at home. There is a well-known parental saying that “you are your child’s first and best teacher.” I would amend that to include parents are their children’s first and best role model.  

My mother was one. Her strength shaped and molded not just my life but my two sisters, as well. She raised us with a “no boundaries” mindset. We were encouraged to pursue our passions. Her faith in us instilled the self-confidence we would rely on as we became adults and pursued our personal and professional goals. 

What made my mom so remarkable was her seemingly endless reserve of inner strength and resilience. My dad retired as a master sergeant from the Air Force, but at his civilian job, he suffered a debilitating stroke at the age of 40 and never worked again. Mom raised three young girls, lovingly cared for our dad and took a job to provide for her family. She never complained about her circumstances. She simply persevered and became our inspiration. 

I lost my mom in 2020, and the best way I can honor her is to pass down her “no limits, no boundaries” mindset to Sadie, my own daughter. She’s only 10, but she is clearly showing a passion for math and technical subjects, much like I did when I was her age. Parents should take opportunities to dispel the notion that one gender is “better suited” for a school subject or a career.  

My circle of friends also provides excellent role models for Sadie. By exposing her to women who are successful in so many different professions, she gets exposed to real-world examples of what happens when you combine passion, talent, self-confidence and hard work. 

As International Women’s Day is celebrated this Friday, the STEM gender gap continues to close, and stereotypes fade away. Parents can accelerate it by doing what my mom did: inspire their daughters to discover their passions. I have a lot of cherished keepsakes and mementos that my mother passed down to me. But the most valuable and enduring gift we can pass down to our daughters is our guidance, encouragement and support. 

Based in Wilmington, NC, Julia McKeithan is key account and product manager for Heraeus Comvance, a global high-purity quartz glass fabricator for the fiber optic and life science industries.