[Filed with Secretary of State April 14, 2015.]
ACR 17, Chang. Women and Girls in STEM Week.
This measure would designate April 5 to April 11, inclusive, 2015, as Women and Girls in STEM Week, would encourage all citizens and community organizations to support the observance of California Women and Girls in STEM Week by encouraging and celebrating women in the STEM fields.
WHEREAS, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) are critical fields for the success of California’s economy; and
WHEREAS, Many of the fastest growing occupations in the United States require some form of expertise in the areas of STEM; and
WHEREAS, STEM careers represent some of the highest-paying positions in any field, thereby providing desirable career opportunities and real pathways out of poverty; and
WHEREAS, Preparing students for the STEM workforce is essential to fulfill the demands of our 21st century, innovation-focused economy; and
WHEREAS, A significant gender gap exists in the participation of STEM disciplines and workforce; and
WHEREAS, Women earn nearly 60 percent of bachelor’s degrees, but are underrepresented in STEM-related college degrees, especially in the computer sciences and engineering fields; and
WHEREAS, According to the Census Bureau, while women make up nearly one-half of the working population, they only represent 26 percent of the STEM workforce; and
WHEREAS, Women represented 34 percent of computer occupations in 1990, but that number declined to 27 percent by 2011; and
WHEREAS, Women in STEM professions earn one-third more than women in non-STEM-related occupations; and
WHEREAS, In California the gender disparities among STEM fields are similar if not more pronounced. Only 15 percent of engineering graduates in California are women and only 15 percent of engineers in the workforce are women; and
WHEREAS, Despite underrepresentation in the STEM fields, there are many California female leaders who represent the STEM community and serve as role models for young girls preparing for STEM careers; and
WHEREAS, Today’s women leaders in STEM stand on the shoulders of innovators that came before them, such as Grace Murray Hopper, a pioneer in her field who is credited for inventing the first computer language compiler; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature encourages all citizens and community organizations to support the observance of California Women and Girls in STEM Week by encouraging and celebrating women in the STEM fields; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature declares April 5 to April 11, inclusive, 2015, as Women and Girls in STEM Week; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
O
96