Introduction to the Courage Campaign
Courage Campaign: Women's Stories of Survival and Speaking Out Against Oppression
Content warning: mention of sexual discrimination, harassment, and abuse.
Gender-based, intersectional discrimination, harassment and violence are major contributors to women leaving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) workforce spaces. Multiple studies have reported that women leave the STEM workforce at higher rates than men [1, 2, 3]. While reasons behind leaving may differ for each individual, evidence supports that gender bias (unconscious or conscious), harassment, and/or sexual assault underlie most experiences. Thankfully, public outrage at the most egregious incidences of sexual harassment, assault, and abuse, is becoming more commonplace. Some perpetrators are facing the consequence of their actions (although, sadly, not often enough). However, the fact is that the vast majority of sexist/misogynistic incidents more often than not elicit little to no reaction, let alone public outrage.
We, Women in Science Portland (WIS-PDX) recognize how it is so often these incidents, no matter how seemingly “small”, that cumulatively negatively impact women in STEM and can drive them out. And to endure them throughout one’s career/lifetime conjures the metaphor of death by a thousand cuts.
Society stigmatizes women who report or speak out against sexist behavior. Women who survive such sexist incidents are left feeling ashamed and isolated. In response, we, WIS-PDX have created a Courage Campaign; a space for individual experience sharing. Community support, such as this, is intended to allow individuals to be seen and heard and not feel alone; to share experiences. As women in science, please consider sharing your experience of oppression, including but not limited to ableism, ageism, classism, homophobia, misogyny, racism, sexism, or xenophobia.
The stories presented as part of this campaign are real!
They are anonymous accounts from courageous women within the local STEM community. This campaign is a safe space, free of judgment, where women can share their story, speak their truth, and process their personal trauma. A place where together we can process collective trauma and begin to heal.Nearly every woman has a story, an experience of enduring sexism in STEM. What sexism/gender-based oppression looks like for each individual can be unique and is informed by their identity, including, but not limited to, their race, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, age, class, ability, religion, marital or parental status, and nationality. Therefore, we recognize intersectional gender-based discrimination as the oppression that any individual who identifies as a woman suffers and endures.
“Courage is a heart word. The root of the word courage is cor – the Latin word for heart. In one of its earliest forms, the word courage meant ‘To speak one’s mind by telling all one’s heart.’ Over time, this definition has changed, and today, we typically associate courage with heroic and brave deeds. But in my opinion, this definition fails to recognize the inner strength and level of commitment required for us to actually speak honestly and openly about who we are and about our experiences — good and bad. Speaking from our hearts is what I think of as “ordinary courage.”- Brené Brown, I Thought It Was Just Me: Women Reclaiming Power and Courage in a Culture of Shame
WIS-PDX is committed to fighting these systems of oppression that prevent women from succeeding in STEM (and elsewhere). By speaking our truth and sharing our stories, we hope to help our community escape the bonds of all forms of gender-based violence so that we can walk safely in the world, be our genuine selves, and thrive. We hope that this program raises awareness of the issues faced by women and non-binary individuals within STEM and starts conversations within the larger community.
If you would like to participate by submitting your experience to WIS-PDX anonymously, please click the button below. With each submitter’s consent, WIS-PDX will compile these stories to share with the community and any other party to make sure they are heard. We recognize that recounting these events can be traumatic. We want to offer support to any individual who needs it through this process. You are not alone and you do not have to traverse this alone.
Follow the campaign on our blog or at #WIScouragecampaign on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
References cited:[1] Cech, EA, Blair-Loy, M. (2019) “The changing career trajectories of new parents in STEM.” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 116 (10) 4182-4187; DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1810862116[2] Xu, Y. J. (2016). Attrition of Women in STEM: Examining Job/Major Congruence in the Career Choices of College Graduates. Journal of Career Development, (), 0894845316633787–. doi:10.1177/0894845316633787[3] “The STEM Gap: Women and Girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math” https://www.aauw.org/resources/research/the-stem-gap/