They'll probably do a better job than you

When I took the decision to major in the arts, many people asked me, “Why bother?” They wanted to know how I would put food on the table and warned me of the job insecurity. And often times, some enlightened individual would tell me, “Arts are for girls.”

Gender stereotypes run rampant through most things in our society and it's honestly no surprise that the statement rings true even when it comes to education. Women who study in STEM fields are constantly being asked to prove themselves. Compared to the young women who want to study the sciences, I've had a pretty easy ride simply because I'm a guy. I can only imagine how infuriating it must be for girls studying STEM to constantly fend off doubt that originates from medieval logic. This week's cover story deals with these constant traps that women in STEM fields find themselves in.

– Talat Ahmed, Sub-editor, SHOUT