Women in STEM - By Fatima Barakat

Written By: Fatima Barakat

Category: Essay

Competition: Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026

In her essay titled "Women in STEM," Fatima Barakat delves into the nuanced and often overlooked challenges faced by women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. As part of the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026, this essay resonates with themes of empowerment and self-belief. Fatima thoughtfully examines how societal expectations can shape the self-perception of young women and the importance of dismantling these barriers to unlock potential and success.

About the Work

Fatima Barakat's essay unpacks the seemingly innocuous phrase "I'm just a girl" to reveal how it can become a limiting belief. She eloquently discusses the importance of confidence, persistence, and resilience for women pursuing careers in STEM. Through compelling arguments and vivid imagery, Fatima emphasizes that femininity and ambition are not mutually exclusive, encouraging girls to embrace their capabilities without apology.

Women in STEM

Original Submission by Fatima Barakat

Women in STEM

“I’m just a girl.”

It started as a joke. A harmless little phrase people throw into conversations when they make a mistake, get scared, embarrass themselves, or simply want to laugh at the chaos of being human. Sometimes it is funny. Sometimes it is even comforting. But somewhere along the way, “I’m just a girl” stopped being only a joke and started becoming an excuse.

They say it when they do not know how to fix something. They say it when they are nervous to speak. They say it when something feels too difficult, too complicated, or too intimidating. Being a girl becomes the explanation for why they cannot do something before they have even tried.

And that is where the problem begins.

There is nothing wrong with being a girl. There is nothing weak about femininity, sensitivity, softness, or asking for help. Being capable does not mean pretending that nothing is difficult. But there is a difference between admitting that something is hard and deciding that someone is incapable of doing it.

Sometimes, people build their own limitations out of expectations they were never required to accept.

A girl may convince herself that she is not good at science, leadership, public speaking, mathematics, sports, technology, or anything else because she has been made to believe those things are not “for girls.” She may hesitate before raising her hand because she is afraid of sounding stupid. She may soften her opinions so they do not seem too strong. She may apologize before she has even said what she wanted to say.

Then people wonder why so many girls struggle to believe in themselves.

Confidence does not appear because someone decides to hand it to you. It is built through experience. It grows when a girl answers the question even though her voice shakes, applies for the opportunity even though rejection is possible, stands up for herself even though staying quiet would be easier, and tries again after failing.

Being a girl should never be the reason someone makes herself smaller.

And this is not about becoming some perfectly fearless version of a girl. Fear is human. Doubt is human. Failure is human. None of those things belong exclusively to one gender, and none of them should determine what someone believes she is capable of becoming.

A girl can be terrified and still be brave. She can be feminine and ambitious. She can be soft and strong at the same time. She can ask for help and still be independent. She can fail at something and still have every right to try again.

The phrase “I’m just a girl” should never become “I’m only a girl.”

Because there is nothing “just” about being a girl.

A girl can be a scientist, a leader, an artist, a doctor, an entrepreneur, a writer, an athlete, or anything else she chooses. She can change her mind, take up space, speak loudly, dream ridiculously big, and walk into rooms where nobody expected her to be.

So keep the funny phrase. Laugh when dinner gets burned, when someone trips over absolutely nothing, or when an obvious answer somehow becomes impossible to find. There is nothing wrong with that kind of humor.

Just do not let a joke become a ceiling. Being a girl should describe who someone is, never decide how far she can go.

About the Competition

The Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 by Hashtag Kalakar celebrates diverse voices across the globe. This prestigious event offers writers a platform to share their perspectives through poetry, short stories, essays, and creative writing. With a focus on creativity and expression, the competition welcomes participants from all backgrounds, fostering a community of literary excellence and innovation.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Fatima Barakat for her thought-provoking essay, "Women in STEM." Her contribution to the Global Poetry and Creative Writing Competition 2026 is a powerful reminder of the importance of self-belief and resilience. Fatima's words inspire us to challenge societal norms and encourage the next generation of women to pursue their dreams fearlessly.

About Hashtag Kalakar

Hashtag Kalakar is a creative platform dedicated to providing artists, writers, singers and other creative talents with opportunities to showcase their work and reach wider audiences through competitions, features and creative initiatives.