Making broadband work for all Latinas

*Latinas represent only 7% of the STEM workforce. Cristina Caballero makes a good case about preserving broadband accessibility to increase that number. VL

By Cristina Caballero, Fox News Latino

Women make up nearly 51 percent of the total U.S. population.  The Latina share of the U.S. female population stands at 16.4 percent and is expected to grow to 25.7 percent by 2050. Despite these numbers, women and Latinas are woefully underrepresented in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields – one of the fastest growing sectors in the United States today.

Today, women make up only 26 percent of the U.S. STEM workforce, while men make up 74 percent. Latinas represent a much smaller percentage of this workforce at 7 percent. Fortunately, there are opportunities to close these gaps. Foremost among these are the many new – and well-paying – jobs being created in the communications and information technology sectors. Latinas are well positioned to help fill these jobs as college graduation rates for Latinas have increased faster than any other group of women.

But the best way to change this dynamic for good is through education and preparing Latinas early on for careers in STEM.  This requires incorporating digital learning into educational curriculums and ensuring that Latinas are able to harness the power of Internet technology and education.  To achieve this goal, universal broadband access is key.

Broadband is not only changing how schools educate our students, it’s also creating a wealth of other new opportunities for Latinas.  From improving business opportunities for Latina entrepreneurs of all trades and backgrounds to helping Latinas better manage their health care needs and that of their families – broadband is empowering Latinas in innumerable ways.

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