Gender inequality in science.
I recommended reading the special issue of Nature this March entitled “Women in science: Women’s work“.
This special edition has several special items that lists the inequality between women and men in science. Indeed, although it seems incredible in the XXI century, we still have much to do to achieve gender equality in the discipline where Marie Curie devoted her life: science. It is true that there has been a massive entry of women in science in the last 35 years. But there is still a very important social difference. Today women continue to receive less pay, get less grants and promotions and more often leave the field of research than their male colleagues. But what is the cause of this trend? Because of the unconscious submission of women by strong social pressures or the prevalence of a social system dominated mainly by the male gender? Perhaps because of the both…
The science news site “MATERIA” reminds us an article published last year in the journal PNAS about Science faculty’s subtle gender biases and in which noted “a bias towards men was not exclusive to men but was also shared by women”.
“Science remains institutionally sexist” indicates Nature´s article.
16 centuries after Hypatia of Alexandria´s death, the first woman mathematician of which are known, I think it’s a good time to reflect and try to approach the equality between men and women in science. 😉
Elodie Brans.
elodiebransblog.wordpress.com 