Muslim women in STEM: Stories from the east and west

This chapter investigates the impact of culture and religion on the experiences of Muslim women students and professionals in STEM. By adopting an intersectional lens, the chapter attempts to unravel the complex relationship between religion and gender equity in STEM, the current state of gender representation in STEM, their identity and the subsequent career trajectories. We aim to contest the dominant view of socio- cultural and political inequalities affecting women in STEM belonging to primarily the West who have more established frameworks for promoting and protecting human rights. We also want to bring in the often- neglected representation of women in STEM from the East especially the Muslim women. In doing so, we foreground intersectionality, a critical element in understanding the nuanced ways in which Muslim STEM women in the West and East function.