Pages of Emma

Let’s Talk Bookish: Women in STEM in books.

—

Happy Friday! I nearly didn’t have this post for today. I forgot to write and schedule it, and unexpectedly ended up being out for much longer than I thought I would be!

Let’s Talk Bookish is a weekly bookish discussion meme created by Rukky @Eternity Books and co-hosted by Aria @Book Nook Bits and Dini @DiniPandaReads. Each Friday, bloggers will write posts about a particular topic and share on their blog.

This week, it’s all about women in STEM.

Over the years, there have been an increasing number of books about women in STEM. What do you think of this trend? Do you like it or is it/can it be poorly done?

If you aren’t familiar with the term, STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths. These are all traditionally male-dominated fields and historically discoveries and contributions by women, even ground-breaking ones, have been overlooked.

As a woman in STEM myself, it’s probably no surprise that I love the trend. I’m in the Science bit, specifically ecology and horticulture and in recent years I have been surrounded by more and more women and it’s been wonderful.

As with any trend, I am sure that there are both amazing portrayals and some not-so-stellar ones around however I actually can’t really speak from experience here as I have read nearly no fiction with women in STEM characters. For what it is worth though, I am all for the representation as I think it is SO important for young girls and teens to see and to hopefully realise that yes, they can be rocket ship engineers, motor mechanics, physicists or whatever else they can dream of one day becoming.

What are your favourite books ft. women in STEM and what books are still on your TBR?

I haven’t read much fiction about women in STEM, but I have read a good amount of non-fiction by women in STEM. You’ll notice too that all the nonfiction below is from the nature writing sub-genre of nonfiction since as I said earlier that is my own area of work and interest.
My personal favourite book of all time is the beautiful Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, a Potawatomi botanist who writes so beautifully about the natural world. If you only pick up one book by a woman in STEM, please let it be this one.

The below is a small selection of the books on my tbr either about or by women in STEM. I want to try and read a bit more fiction with women in STEM characters, though it all comes down to finding the time to fit them between the nonfiction!

Do you have any favourite books about or by women in stem? what might you recommend to me?

14 responses to “Let’s Talk Bookish: Women in STEM in books.”

  1. Lin's Perspective avatar
    Lin’s Perspective

    Oh wow, hi Emma! It’s so nice to see you here, and that’s such an amazing profession that you don’t often hear enough about! You can definitely say you have The green finger! I love plants and am currently growing a decorative rose, and I’m pleased to report that it is still alive! it will blossom soon, actually, and I am so thrilled about it if you want, I can show it to you, it needs to be replanted? not sure if that’s the right terminology, but I’ve got a new pot and dirt and everything lined up, haha so now I know who to turn to if my plants need some special care 🙂

    From your selection, I have 3 books on my TBR and one I have actually read, but I didn’t know Marie Lu was in STEM! Will absolutely check Braiding Sweetgrass, I would love to recommend The Radium Girls it’s on my TBR, but I’ve heard so many good things about it by Kate Moore 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Emma avatar
      Emma

      I know, where are all my fiction books about gardeners and plant scientists? Hah! There’s probably some but I haven’t actually looked for them to be honest.
      I would love to see your rose when it flowers! Do you know what type it is? I’m always here for plant questions haha!

      I don’t know if she’s ever worked in the field but Marie Lu did study biology, and in her book Warcross the FMC is a computer scientist/hacker.
      Thank you for the rec, I’ll check out Kate Moore for sure!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Lin's Perspective avatar
        Lin’s Perspective

        Hahah yes! It will flowers these days for sure. I’m not sure what the exact type of it I think here we simply call it mini rose. Mine is pink.
        I did read Warcross but completely forgot that the FMC was a hacker haha in my defence, I read it ages ago, in 2018, haha, but I still didn’t know that bit about the author either. I waiting on a deal for radium girls! And I got HPM on Audible and can’t wait now you hyped me up, haha. I also would love to read your review on it 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Emma avatar
        Emma

        Pink roses are always winners! I hope it does well for you!
        Yeah it’s a bit of a throwback book haha. Ahh enjoy PHM!! I’ll hopefully have a review up in the next week or so.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Lin's Perspective avatar
        Lin’s Perspective

        Thank youuu. Will be looking out for it 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Emma avatar
        Emma

        It’s scheduled for Thursday!

        Liked by 1 person

      5. Lin's Perspective avatar
        Lin’s Perspective

        Cant wait 🙂

        Like

  2. Let’s Talk Bookish: Women in STEM in Books – dinipandareads avatar
    Let’s Talk Bookish: Women in STEM in Books – dinipandareads

    […] Elle @ Unwrapping WordsLeyre @ Read Your LeyreYolanda @ Past MidnightRaji @ Worlds Unlike Our OwnAbyssal LibrarianShoto @ Magic & MaybesLin @ Lin’s PerspectiveFelice @ Tea and Cats and BooksLeslie @ Books are the New BlackEmma @ Pages of Emma […]

    Like

    Reply
  3. Dini @ dinipandareads avatar
    Dini @ dinipandareads

    I fully agree, it’s so important for this representation to exist and I’m so glad that this is a trend that has appeared and continues to grow, especially in more popular genres of fiction such as romance, where normally FMCs have artsy occupations only. It’s so important to have this rep in all areas so it’s always really nice to come across it 🙂

    I’ve seen Braiding Sweetgrass a lot in the past month(s) and even though I’m not much of a non-fiction girlie, this does sound interesting. Maybe I will give it a try some day cos I do enjoy stepping out of my comfort zone on occasion, lol. I have Invisible Women and Lessons in Chemistry on my TBR as well and I hope we both enjoy them! Thanks for joining LTB this week 💜

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    1. Emma avatar
      Emma

      Yes! I love art and artists too, but as you say there is so much more we have to offer than that!

      Oh Sweetgrass is so beautiful, it’s part memoir, part celebration of nature and part record of Indigenous knowledge. It’s a really good one to read slowly and pick up and put down, so if nonfiction isn’t your usual thing it might work for you! She narrates the audio and has the most soothing voice if that’s more your style!

      Like

      Reply
  4. International Women’s Day – Pages of Emma

    […] Happy International Women’s Day!I thought I’d do a little post today to share some of my favourite books written by women. Yesterday’s post was on a very similar subject, so definitely check that one out too: Let’s Talk Bookish: Women in STEM in books. […]

    Like

    Reply
  5. Veros avatar
    Veros

    How cool that you’re in horticulture, that sounds fascinating!
    Braiding Sweetgrass is one I really want to read and I’m very curious about Invisible Women (I’ve heard great things but I also feel like it’s gonna be one that makes me rage).

    Thanks for visiting my blog earlier 🥰

    Like

    Reply
    1. Emma avatar
      Emma

      It really is so interesting, always something new to learn and find!
      Yes the friend who recommended Invisible Women to me said it will make me angry, but it’s a must-read anyway. I really hope you get to pick up Sweetgrass soon, and I hope you enjoy it when you do!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
      1. Veros avatar
        Veros

        That is awesome :D! Yes, sometimes we need that anger, I agree 🙂 & Thank you 🥰!

        Liked by 1 person

Leave a reply to Emma Cancel reply

● Hi friends!

Welcome to my little corner of the internet!
I’m Emma (she/her), a 30-something living in the UK. I love to read fantasy, science fiction and non-fiction books, though I do dip into many other genres. Enjoy your reading!

Please note that Bookshop.org links are affiliate links. The price you pay does not change but I will receive a small commission if you use my link.

Hi friends, what have you been reading this week? November Wrap-Up! What have you been reading this week? Unbox with me! We Will Not Be Saved by Nemonte Nenquimo. 10 Before The End... A Training School for Elephants by Sophy Roberts. Do you like monochrome book covers? October wrap-up!
Archive