One of the2018 Nobel Prizes in physicswent to Donna Strickland, a major accomplishment for any scientist.
Female researchers have come a long way over the past century.
Studies have shown those who persist in these careers face explicit and implicit barriers to advancement.
But are things getting better in terms of equal representation?
What still holds women back in the classroom, in the lab, in leadership and as award winners?
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Bothmen and women report these viewpoints, but researchers haveempirically disputed them.
These approaches are working.
Women are increasingly likely toexpress an interest in STEM careers and pursue STEM majorsin college.
More women are graduating with STEM Ph.D.s and earning faculty positions.
But they go on to encounter glass cliffs and ceilings as they advance through their academic careers.
Whats not working for women
Women face a number ofstructural and institutional barriersin academic STEM careers.
Bench science can require years of dedicated time in a laboratory.
With fewer female colleagues,women are less likelyto build relationships with female collaborators andsupport and advice networks.
Universities,professional associations, and federal funders haveworked to address a varietyof these structural barriers.
These programs have mixed results.
Research shows that an implicit bias against womenas experts and academic scientistsis pervasive.
It manifests itself by valuing, acknowledging and rewarding mens scholarship over womens scholarship.
Implicit bias can work against womens hiring, advancement and recognition of their work.
Letters of recommendation for women aremore likely to raise doubtsand use language that results in negative career outcomes.
Known as the Matilda Effect, there is a gender gap in recognition, award winning andcitations.
This marginalization in research gatekeeping positions works against the promotion of womens research.
This gender imbalance isnotable in how infrequentlywomen expertsarequoted in news storieson most topics.
Women scientists are afforded less of the respect and recognition that should come with their accomplishments.
Why does this matter?
Female physics laureate No.
Seeing mostly men has been the history of science.
