OPINION
For several years, women's ambitions in science and technology were subjugated to the needs of parents and as such they were denied the opportunities to attain their dreams in all spheres of life. This is mainly because of the long existing cultural and social biases towards women. However , on several occasions, a huge number of women from all over the world has proved that they are capable of inventing new technologies and ideas like men as long as they are given equal educational opportunities.
In the Ethiopian context, in the past women's roles were limited to domestic chores and rising children. They as well were subject to various forms of domestic abuses and violence. Moreover, they were denied their fundamental democratic rights to own property, to have marriage in consent, and the like for many centuries.
However, for the last 24 years, Ethiopian women have been enjoying their inalienable rights of a level field in all domains. As a result, we are seeing an ever increasing number of female scientists, engineers, doctors and natural science students in the recent history of this country.
Of course, female affirmative action is introduced in the education system taking in to account the long standing cultural and gender stereotypes as well as the disadvantages members of the fair sex suffered in comparison with men.
Due to the aforementioned action, female enrollment in higher education is increasing from time to time. Plus, the 70/30 education policy in Ethiopia has encouraged a large number of female students to pursue their education in natural sciences than ever before.
For instance, recently Ministry of Science and Technology had awarded prizes for 50 higher institution female students who have scored outstanding grades in maths, engineering, science and technology as whole. This by itself will encourage many more female students to engage in science and technology apart from disproving the long held unscientific belief that the field of science and technology is tough for women.
Apparently, using the available education and job opportunities in the country, a number of female students has changed their life and communities for the better. They have also attested to the fact that there is no man's jobs that a woman could not do expect the biologically assigned one.
In tandem with the advancement of science and technology, the Ethiopian women who forms more than half of entire population, will play a key role to this end as long as they are given equal opportunities and fairly graded in higher education and universities.
Indeed, throughout the country, gender bias and stereotyping are being tackled following extensive awareness creation campaigns and success stories of women in politics, economy, science and technology as well as other filed of studies.
As one of the recently awarded students said "I adore creativity; that is why I preferred to engage in science and technology. As I had been cherishing a dream since my childhood days, I have not found the hard science rocky for me. Anything is possible for a determined woman, if the society allows her to engage in it. The award I received today encourages me to do better and achieve more.
In general, the government needs to back up the so far registered achievements of female students in science and technology by providing every necessary support and facilities that aims at enhancing female's creativity in natural sciences.
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