For the 31% of women working with a STEM bachelor’s degree, their careers encompass more than launching and designing the world’s newest product or system.
According to the Pew Research Center, women who enter the field face different experiences than their male counterparts rooted in stereotypes and gender discrimination. And sometimes, the workplace becomes a hub where their knowledge and abilities are constantly questioned. There’s a list of reasons why women are considered a marginalized group in this field, yet for those who are working to change the industry, their presence almost feels like a rebellious act – speaking to their power to breakthrough workplace inequities and pave the way for future generations of female STEM leaders.
Joining them in making a difference for all girls and women, are the Techalongs.
As an all-girls robotics team, the Techalongs have built a community grounded in inclusion and innovation – offering even those not in Girl Scouts, the opportunity to join the adventure. For Girl Scouts like Alice, Eleanor, and Emily, being part of the team has increased their confidence, and curiosity. Their favorite part of it all is sharing their passion and love for robotics with their community. They organize Girl Scout badge workshops, host Introduction to Robotics workshops for the Pima neighborhood and participate in community outreach programs to recruit new team members and share their knowledge with others.
“Going to outreach events and teaching younger kids about robotics has made me a more social person,” said Eleanor. “FIRST has helped me build my confidence.”
Before joining the Techalongs, Alice, a Girl Scout Cadette, joined an all-boys robotics team to compete in the FIRST LEGO League Challenge, where she was overlooked, and her ideas often ignored, similar feelings to those experienced by 29% of women in STEM that work alongside men. When she joined the Techalongs, she felt something different.
“Being part of this team has made me a lot more confident because in my other team, I wasn’t being heard, so that kind of shrunk my confidence, but being on a team where my ideas are heard and used makes me feel like I can do anything,” Alice said.
The team competed in the FIRST Robotics competition, where they were presented as Connect Award finalists, and Judges' Award winners. In January 2023, they earned the Connect Award, and then participated in the State Championship, where they won second place for the Connect Award and third place for the Promote Award. This friendly competition organized by FIRST – a volunteer-driven nonprofit serving youth through STEM – provided the Techalongs with opportunities to network and expand their skill set, all which will be used to design their next robot.
One of the many things the girls love about their robotics team is that it’s completely girl-led. As the eldest in the group, Emily, a Girl Scout Ambassador, is an essential member of the team, helping with sponsorships, fundraising, and social media management. She is in the process of planning for her Gold Award project, which will focus on creating program opportunities for all girls to learn about robotics in a safe and comfortable environment. By teaching their community, and challenging themselves to try new things, the Techalongs are a testament to the amazing things Girl Scouts can be and do.
Robotics is so much more than building, coding, and competing. For a team like them, it’s a way to break bionic ceilings and radicalize the robotics world, in the best way possible.
Published in the 2023 winter issue of Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council’s Girl Scout Connections.