Bridging the Gender Gap in Science and Technology

Several recent conferences have been organized with focus on empowering women in science, engineering and technology at Oxford, from OxFest, Athena Swan Women, among others. The issue remains the same: more women must participate in science, technology and engineering.

I vividly remember a friend’s first encounter in one of the physical science departments. When she asked for directions to the ladies’ room, one of the gentlemen politely told her there were no ladies’ facilities on the floor. Instead, she needed to go the floor below to use the toilet. Although her embarrassment was only slight, it was nevertheless one of the prices she paid to work in a male-dominated environment.

New statistics on the European Union show that this apparent and blatant under-representation of women in science persists. Only 1.22% of the total UK work force are women scientists or engineers, compared to 4.48% men. This is a bigger gap than the EU average – 1.75% women and 3.65% men – and ranks behind countries like Iceland, Belgium and Ireland where the representation is almost equal. In the United States,  women earn about half the doctorates in science and engineering in the United States but comprise only 21% of full science professors and 5% of full engineering professors. And on average, they earn just 82% of what male scientists make in the United States, even less in Europe.

In contrast, Brazil rose as a leader of fostering women’s presence in scientific fields, especially by standard development measures, ranking first in the representation of women in science and technology. The impressive statistics are directly a result of programmes that support women in the workforce, provide stable funding for education and research, and give support for female-driven entrepreneurship. In another study South Africa scores well too, with a high number of women engaged in science professionally. The country boasts the highest percentage of female members of a national science academy, demonstrative of a supportive political environment for women.

One of the major challenges outlined  as responsible for the poor participation is the work-balance issue. A major dilemma faced by women in all spheres of life, it suggests that a good solution will will not focus on balancing the equation between work and personal life. Rather, the relationship between the two spheres of women’s lives should ideally be blended together naturally.

If asked to mention some great women in science, engineering and technology, Marie Curie, Anita Borg, and pre-political chemist Margaret Thatcher are the only few who come to mind. More awareness of the contributions of women in science and technology will encourage the younger females to consider a career in these fields. We need to change our perceptions and increase the awareness about women who have made a great contribution to these fields. In doing this, we will encourage the next generation to pursue these careers.