Women in Science

Susan WrayPhysiology, university of Liverpool

What's different?

Caring responsibilities

Anything else

Top tips

Knowing what you want

Re entry fellowships

Working mum vs stay at home mum

Full time working mum vs part time mum

Mummy-wars try to pit us against each other.We don’t have to belittle or question what another family chooses.

(We rarely question what the Father does — whether he works or not.)

One size does not fit all – Do it your way

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=51ZdqRYCYNjNJM&tbnid=nDvW_KHasaRbuM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.kaentrenos.net/2011_04_01_archive.html&ei=ceQ4UdHsPKPw0gWuuIGgCA&bvm=bv.43287494,d.ZWU&psig=AFQjCNFZNXIJh2O4eRPjiZadrChzZR2tuA&ust=1362768993363746

“Whatever decision you make, don’t feel guilty about it. You, not an outsider, know what is best for you and your family.”

Ditch the guilt

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=bx3vlZfFZn1wMM&tbnid=48L6wz3PWxd-2M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://mrmortgage.ml-implode.com/2008/10/31/warning-to-those-with-young-children/&ei=xOQ4UZTxKurJ0QXjtYHwCA&bvm=bv.43287494,d.ZWU&psig=AFQjCNFZNXIJh2O4eRPjiZadrChzZR2tuA&ust=1362768993363746

Life and choices more complex for females

Times Higher

What's different?

Caring responsibilities

Anything else

Top tips

Women in Science

Female physiologists are Heads of departments and faculties

Female physiologists/scientists are Vice Chancellors/executives

All universities/institutes have equal opportunity commitment

Universities/institutes

Female physiologists/scientist get appointed and promoted

Professional bodies

grant committees

editorial Boards

society committees

learned bodies

Female physiologists on:

Women in Science

So, no problem?

Women in Science

Female physiologists areHeads of departments and faculties

Female physiologists/scientists are Vice Chancellors/executive

All universities/institutes have equal opportunity commitment

Universities/institutesFemale physiologists/scientist get appointed and promoted

Most are first female head and majority of departments have never had a female head.

Female VCs Very Rare beasts!

UK universities have been shown to be amongst worst institutions for gender equality. Equal opportunity not working

>50% women graduates, < 10% become professors professors and mothers.......

How good/ bad is it?

Professional bodies

•grant committees – few and no section heads, Wellcome Trust physiol committee: 1/15

•editorial Boards - few : J.Physiol & Expt Physiol never a female chair: 0/14

•society committees – few especially on executives Physiological Society currently 1/6

•learned bodies - very few; Female Royal Society Fellows 6%

Female physiologists on BUT:

1: How good/ bad is it?

1: How good/ bad is it?

SAD

GRUMPY

Science/workplace attitudes

What are the issues?

male and female ways of doing thingscurrent set up evolved to suit males and male ways

e.g. questions after talks: for info or ego?

not a real scientist unless you life devoted to it

female way = weak . success = male way power plays and alpha maleness; not as valued by women?

“The success of initiatives has been limited by focusing on helping women to survive and thrive in existing masculine environments, rather than challenging the underlying work culture and perception of the ideal scientist as a masculine figure: ”.

Women in Science, Engineering and Technology: Three Decades of UK Initiatives Alison Phipps (Trentham Books: 2008)

What are the issues?

Stereotypes, assumptions and prejudiceMales are safe choice and plenty to pick fromWomen good at pastoral roles, teaching, details....

Female wouldn’t want to do it – she’s too busy already, parents/children to look afterno experience...... not put herself forward

Struggle in this role/discipline, get pregnant, emotional,too risky, bitchy, can’t take a joke, never in the bar (threatens me, may be better than me, didn’t want to sleep with me, what’s her problem!)

What are the issues?

and.........

What are the issues?

Society, biology, .......... Confidence

Inner voice

Give up now?! ScientistSmiley

Top tips

Smileyin training

What can we do?

A lot

Evaluate and celebrate success – role out role models

Mentor schemes

Do it your way – don’t give up

Be a sister not a b****

What can we do?

What is success – you decide

Let people know and spread the worde.g. Biophysical Society mag profiles

Royal Society booklet about successful women who are also mothers,

Step up the mark

Volunteer, nominate, initiate, subvert

Evaluate and celebrate success – role out role models

free pdf from RS. Ottoline Leyser: Rosalind Franklin Award

“Mothers in Science – 64 ways to have it all”

L’OREAL - UNESCO awards

honouring women in science

Subvert – do it your way

Mentor schemes

What can we do?

Join in, set up in work place and professional bodies

network

Give money for named lecture, fellowship, bursary, that favours females

Tap in to existing organizations and expertise

Step up to the mark

volunteer

Mentor schemes

What can we do?

Join in, set up in work place and professional bodies

network

Tap in to existing organizations and expertise

Do it your way – don’t give up

What can we do?

One size doesn’t fit all

Feel the fear – and do it anyway.

(every now and then!)

Illegitimi non carborundum

Sisters are doing it for themselves

Be a sister not a bitch

What can we do?

Don’t perpetuate stereotypes, assumptions and prejudices

Don’t pull the ladder up

Don’t get jealous – it’s easier now,let them learn from their mistakesThat could /should have been me, so not helping her

Thanks to all the good guys, female and male, helping world physiology by being fair