In Tokyo, a third-year student named Yuna Kato attending a prestigious engineering university in Japan has expressed her aspirations for a research career. However, she has concerns about the potential limitations on her career duration if she decides to have children.

Kato shares that her relatives have been discouraging her from pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. They believe that women in these fields are too absorbed in their work to maintain relationships or family life, making it challenging for them to find life partners.

“My grandmother and mother often advise me to consider non-STEM jobs if I plan to have children,” she said.

Despite the societal pressures, Kato has remained steadfast in her pursuit of engineering. However, the pervasive social stigma surrounding women in STEM fields leads many aspiring female engineers to seek alternative paths. This poses a significant challenge for Japan, a nation with a population of 125.7 million. By 2030, Japan is projected to face a shortage of 790,000 workers in the IT sector alone, primarily due to the underrepresentation of women.

Experts warn that this situation could result in a decline in innovation, productivity, and competitiveness for a country that has thrived as the world’s third-largest economy, largely due to these strengths during the last century.

“It’s a significant waste and a loss for the nation,” said Yinuo Li, a Chinese educator holding a PhD in molecular biology, whose image has been used for a Barbie doll as a female STEM role model.

“If there is no gender balance, your technology will have notable blind spots and deficiencies,” added Li, a mother of three who is currently in Japan as part of a cultural exchange program.

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