SCOTTISH women working across the science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) sectors still face disproportionate discrimination and harassment, according to a report published today.

The survey of more than 400 women, all of whom either work or have worked in STEM or were studying the subjects in further or higher education, revealed the often multiple inequalities women faced in male-dominated industries.

The analysis showed that 60% had experienced sexism in the workplace or in their place of education; while one in three women did not feel confident in reporting experiences of exclusion or discrimination to their employers.

READ MORE: Engineer aims to inspire children from minority backgrounds with STEM campaign

The findings were broken down for the first time to present an 'intersectional analysis' by considering the experiences of women from black and minority ethnic backgrounds, disabled women, LGBT women and women with caring responsibilities.

Talat Yaqoob, director of Equate Scotland, an organisation established to promote and encourage the advancement of women in STEM who carried out the report, called for action to tackle the gender bias.

She said:“This report is ground-breaking as it has disaggregated the data to give us a more accurate understanding of women’s experiences. By analysing it in this way we are able to illustrate the often hidden realities for women who experience multiple discriminations.

"Our report reveals the extent of inequality faced by BME women, disabled women, LGBT women and women with caring responsibilities. The report is a call for action to improve workplace practice. With the current Covid-19 crisis, science and technology has never been more important, to respond adequately we need the best minds working in these sectors; that is why we must tackle all and any inequalities that act as a barrier to women’s participation.”

In Scotland, around 11% of women work in engineering, 23% in technology and less than 2% in construction.

Although women account for 82% of those working in medicine and dentistry and are over-represented across science-specific degrees, more than 70% who graduate with a STEM qualification leave STEM specific employment.

The full-time gender pay gap is around 7% for science, research, engineering and technology professionals in Scotland.

In the report, women shared their experiences of religious, racial and gender discrimination, among others.

Analysing the inequalities faced by specific groups of women allows employers, education providers and the government to provide working and learning environments that will champion women like they never have before, claims Ms Yaqoob.

She said: "Whilst the depth of women’s inequality across STEM is understood in general terms, data and analysis on intersecting inequalities experienced by women has too often been ignored. The overlapping inequalities faced by women of colour, LGBT women, disabled women and women with caring responsibilities require specific analysis and specific interventions.

"By presuming women are a homogenous group, we do a disservice to their experiences and as a result, we further embed the inequalities they face. "

READ MORE: Women in STEM ‘prefer to work for smaller firms’

With a national annual shortfall of 59,000 engineering graduates and technicians to fill core roles, and demand only growing, Scotland must invest in training and and retaining women in the industries, says Mavis Amadi, chartered engineer and member of the Equate Scotland steering committee.

She said: "As a woman, a mother and a migrant, I have experienced inequality across these different parts of my identity, but I also know lots of employers are trying to change and create better working environments [...] However, I believe that they could do more. Most of the barriers that women face have existed for decades, such as feeling pressure to repeatedly prove their professional worth. Women are often on the receiving end of stereotypes and multiple, subtle but implicit, biases."

The report recommendations include collecting more thorough data that will better inform policy making; the provision of flexible and affordable child and social care; more training in diversity and equality across workplaces and places of education; and a redesign of recruitment and selection processes, which respondents claim have embedded biases.