What barriers do women face on the path to STEM and IT?
From their earliest school years to the workplace, girls and women encounter persistent barriers: gender stereotypes, unconscious bias, a lack of role models, and environments where they do not always feel welcome or taken seriously. These obstacles limit their vision of a future in STEM and IT and that’s a missed opportunity for everyone. Because STEM is for everyone.
Hurdle route
About VHTO
Technology and IT are the driving forces behind progress. Yet in the Netherlands, only around 16.6% of technical jobs are held by women. This is a missed opportunity—not only for girls and women themselves, but for society as a whole. VHTO, the Dutch national expert centre for gender diversity in STEM, works towards equal opportunities in technology and IT. Because more women in STEM leads to better performance, more inclusive innovation, and stronger solutions to societal challenges such as the energy transition and digitalisation.
Gender & STEM Network
The gender and STEM network aims at gaining more insights into the various connected aspects of career choices and professional careers of girls/women (and boys/men) in the direction of STEM as well as detecting new approaches to improve and address the underrepresentation of girls/women in STEM.
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Unmasking STEM neutrality: why queer identities matter in science education
STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) are often seen as the most “neutral” parts of education: objective, factual, uninfluenced by human identity. But researchers Anneke Steegh and Chiara Holzhäuser argue the opposite. Their work bases on the idea that this perceived neutrality can hide powerful norms that disadvantage queer, trans and non-binary students. At the heart of their project, Unmasking STEM Neutrality, lies a simple but transformative question: Who is STEM really designed for?
Toolbox Sociaal Veilig Werken voor leidinggevenden in de techniek
Toolbox sociaal veilig werken voor leidinggevenden. Maak sociale veiligheid bespreekbaar in je team met praktische werkvormen.
Rolmodel in de spotlight – Nannique Rupert
“Je moet gewoon met respect met elkaar omgaan.”
Peter Elferink: “Luister eerst naar de persoon”
Volgens Peter begint sociale veiligheid op de werkvloer met luisteren, respect en ruimte om fouten te maken binnen het team.
Rolmodel in de spotlight – Lotte Honselaar
“Je moet je kunnen uitspreken zonder angst.”
Maikel Schouw: “Zonder sociale veiligheid verliest de bouw haar toekomst”
Mensen verlaten de bouw niet vanwege het vak, maar vanwege de cultuur. Maikel Schouw pleit voor meer sociale veiligheid in de bouw.
Jaarverslag 2025: techniek is van iedereen
In dit jaarverslag lees je wat we hebben gedaan, wat dat opleverde en welke inzichten we meenemen naar de toekomst.
Hoe stereotiepe beelden talent in de weg staan
De manosfeer heeft invloed in de klas. Drie op de tien docenten zien dat jongens beïnvloed lijken door online ideeën over mannelijkheid.