Women In Science: Recent Activity in the US Moving beyond "the woman problem"

- changing men and institutions

Fran BagenalUniversity of Colorado, Boulder

Demographics Studies -> pragmatic approach Institutional Studies: MIT -> many others Affirmative Action Title IX

Some good books & great speakers Thoughts of a brain-drainer

Studies

Sticks

Suggestions

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Women In Science:Recent Activity in the US

Demographics• statistical studies by professional organizations • decline in degrees (particularly in physical sciences)• workforce pressures

-> pragmatic approach

“how to help these poor women”

“how to train/hire/retain the talent we need to do the job”

Starting with 4 million 16-year-olds

“The Leaky Pipeline”5 in 10001 in 1000

Percent of Physics BS Degrees and PhDs Earned by Women

(1971-1998)

Percent of PhDs Earned by Women - Historical Perspective

(1920-1998)

Post-war grimness%

%

Percent of BS Degrees Earned by Women in Several Sciences (1975-1997)

%

Degrees Granted - 1955-2000

First Year Graduate Students in Physics and Astronomy

US MUST diversify to meet workforce needs

“The harsh fact is that the US need for the highest quality human capital in science, mathematics, and engineering is not being met.”

Education as a National Security Imperative

““Hart-Rudman Report” - 2001Hart-Rudman Report” - 2001

“… fund a comprehensive program to produce the needed numbers of science and engineering professionals as well as qualified teachers in science and math.”

Recommendation

Women In Science:Recent Activity in the US

Institutional Studies - Status of Women at MIT -> many others• Caltech, U. California, Michigan, Stanford, Wisconsin, Space Telescope Science Institute, etc.

• Pay, space, awards, responsibilities, etc. often unequal

• But it is as much CULTURE that drives women away

- Women are less content with their work environment - 2-body problems, family issues - But also hostile environment - many subtle obstacles - Not just older generation who just can’t change - new generation of arrogant and overly entitled young men who apparently can’t credit young women with intelligence, dedication or a future in science.

1. DATA- Gather & post data on UG and graduate programs, - Advertize where there are women faculty & women post-docs

- follow “the 60% cohort” - in 2002 60% of 18-23 year-old members are women - how will their careers evolve?

2. HIRING - 2-body policies, pro-active recruitment

3. FAMILIES - need flexibility in hours, careers, tenure

4. INNOVATIVE CAREER PATHS - advertize, train, take pride

5. MENTORING - describe what it is, give examples

6. INSTITUTIONAL LEADERS MUST BE ACTIVE ON GENDER ISSUES - hiring, mentorship, career development

7. BEST PRACTICES - Spread the word

Women In Astronomy 2003 - Recommendations

“The Two-Body Problem”

Profession of Physicists’ Spouses

Women scientists/engineers tend to marry scientists/engineers

Women In Science:Recent Activity in the US

“Speak softly and carry a big stick”

• Obligations of institutions that receive federal funds

• Affirmative Action - “good faith” effort, significant impact at undergraduate admissions level, less at higher levels

• Title IX - Show hiring/funding consistent with demographics for educational institutions to get federal research funds- e.g. Top schools not hiring

women faculty in proportion to their own women PhDs- Debra Rolison articles/talks- Congress very interested

Women In Science:Recent Activity in the US

• Some great speakersVirgina ValianSheila TobiasDenice DentonElaine SeymourSusan EstrichDebra Rolison

• Some good books .... and lots and lots of websites....

Women In Science:Recent Activity in the US

Thoughts of a Brain-Drainer• Keep BBC Horizon alive!• Humor is the best weapon (no “whining minnies”)• UK has 1/4 the US population and better education*

-why does UK have <<1/4 US women scientists?

• Please, please - someone write (preferable in cartoon):

“Everything the Astrophysicist Needs to Know About Women in Science But is Too Arrogant to Ask”

“Feminism 101 for the Busy Scientist”

* produces twice as many physics degrees per capita

Women In Science:Recent Activity in the US

• Some great speakersVirgina ValianSheila TobiasDenice DentonElaine SeymourSusan EstrichDebra Rolison

• Some good books .... and lots and lots of websites....

Web Sites - 1www.aip.org/statistics/index.htm

American Institute of Physics Statistics Groupcheminfo.chem.ou.edu/faculty/djn/diversity/top50.html

Diversity statistics at univ. science depts.www.serve.com/awis/

Association of Women in Sciencewww.aps.org/educ/cswp/

Comm. on the Status of Women in Physics, American Physical Societywww.aas.org/~cswa/

Comm. on the Status of Women, American Astronomical Societywww.physics.wm.edu/dualcareer.html

The 2-body problem / dual-careerswww.wisc.edu/provost/hiring/hirinit.html

U. Wisconsin spousal hiring policy

www.aps.org/apsnews/0503/050312.html Applying Title IX to science depts.

web.mit.edu/fnl/women/women.html MIT study on the status of women

www.ucop.edu/pressummit/reports.html U. California reports on gender equity

diversity.caltech.edu/ Caltech study on the status of women

www.aura-astronomy.org/nv/nuresult.asp?nuid=52

Status of Women at Space Telescope Science Institutewww.engr.washington.edu/advance/

ADVANCE program at U. Washington women in academia

www.hunter.cuny.edu/genderequity/ Gender Equity Program for women in academia

www.nssg.gov/ Hart-Rudman Commission

crux.astr.ua.edu/4000WS/4000WS.html 4000 years of women in science

Web Sites - 2