By Tia Ladd
There has been some buzz spreading around Mashpee Middle-High School regarding whether or not the new STEMinist club has anything to do with feminism. What’s the intent of the club that started from a doctor halfway across the world?
The STEMinist club was made to give girls the opportunity to work in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields and to give them the confidence of knowing that they are truly capable of creating something beautiful and reaching their full potential. This club was created because of two Mashpee students and two wonderful women who had the bright idea of creating a club for other girls in the district to join and learn about STEM.
There has been some buzz spreading around Mashpee Middle-High School regarding whether or not the new STEMinist club has anything to do with feminism. What’s the intent of the club that started from a doctor halfway across the world?
The STEMinist club was made to give girls the opportunity to work in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields and to give them the confidence of knowing that they are truly capable of creating something beautiful and reaching their full potential. This club was created because of two Mashpee students and two wonderful women who had the bright idea of creating a club for other girls in the district to join and learn about STEM.
"STEM isn't about feminism. It's about giving Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematical opportunities to girls," said Mrs. Hough, the adviser for the club.
The story behind the creation of the STEMinist Club starts with an inspiring doctor across the world named Dr. Rachael Sheffield. Dr. Sheffield spoke to Ms. Hough, Haley Welch, Maddie Souza and thirty other girls over Skype to discuss what a STEMinist is along with what activities and projects are worked on in these fields. From this call, Haley and Maddie had the idea of creating a club based off of what Dr. Sheffield had just named and explained to them: a STEMinist club.
Along with the idea of this club's creation there have been many other activities that these two girls have thought that have to do with raising awareness to the club and bringing other girls to the understanding that they are able to do projects having to do with STEM. Some of these activities are creating density experiments and cloud dough, which is a great hands on activity for children and makes STEM fun. The club would also like to meet women in the STEM fields who will mentor these girls and to also meet people at the Cape Cod Community College to have a career day where the connecting topic of girls and STEM will be spoken about.
The branding name of 'STEMinist' was not determined by Ms. Hough or the girls but it was by Dr. Sheffield who told them about an already existing STEM group for women. The ladies wanted to (and still might) change the name but were unsure if the club would still be associated with all STEM fields.
Students can join Ms. Hough and the girls Wednesdays after school at Room A126 for STEM club and be creative with Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics while still having fun.