How many women work in the GIS field, and where are they concentrated? A new map aims to show us.
To celebrate Women’s History Month, Dr. Linda Loubert, Assistant Professor of Economics at Morgan State University, is attempting a crowd-sourced map of women in GIS.
Dr. Loubert is asking all women in GIS to submit their names, job location, and occupation sector to the map, including those teaching in GIS, students in GIS programs and women employed in GIS professions. Pictured here is Cecily Herzig, Manager of Data Acquisitions at Maponics, who has added her name to the map.
The Map: “Making History . . . GIS and Women”
The Women in GIS map displays all the GIS positions entered by women worldwide. Below is a look at the submissions throughout the bulk of the US.
Maponics Production Cartographer Meg Petroski submitted her name and occupation to the Women in GIS map. Click to enlarge. Source: Morgan State University
Women who work in the GIS professions are part of the larger STEM fields – science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
At Maponics, about 20% of the STEM jobs are filled by women, which mirrors the national average. Women in STEM jobs earn more than those in non-STEM fields – about 33% more, according to the Women and Girls in STEM fact sheet published by the federal Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Ideally, information about women in STEM fields, such as this map of women in GIS, will encourage girls and women to consider a career in STEM.
To contribute to the Women in GIS map, click here.