Women in Science

The ability of women to enter and succeed in scientific fields has long been affected by traditional ideas of gender-appropriate behavior and ability. Traditionally, the idea of gender-specific socialization created and reinforced a fundamental division of labor by gender. Women were primarily responsible for domestic issues of home and family, and men were expected to be the primary breadwinners (Sonnert 4). However, this gender-specific division has been considerably weakened in recent times, primarily because of the increased participation of women in the labor force. Nonetheless, the thought that underlies the division has not completely disappeared, and it remains largely responsible for the dearth of women in science and engineering fields today.

The period from 1940 to 1972 is generally considered to have been a golden age for science in America. Unfortunately, it is also generally considered to have been "a very dark age for women in the professions" (Rossiter xv). Rossiter offers evidence to demonstrate that the growth and affluence of that period did not benefit the sexes equally. In fact, she argues that it unleashed forces that hastened women's exit, marginalization and underuse in the scientific fields. This marginalization was then used as a rationale to justify denying further training to women, thus forming a vicious circle that women would need decades to break and which, indeed, they are still attempting to break through today (Rossi

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f women in scientific fields today. A report by the National Research Council determined that women comprise only about 12 percent of the employed scientific and engineering (S&E) labor force in industry (National Research Council ("NRC") 1). Generally, the attrition rate for women scientists and engineers in industry, that is, the rate at which women leave the field, is double that for men and substantially higher than for other employment sectors (NRC 1). The NRC determined that limited access to scientific fields is the first hurdle women must face when seeking industrial jobs in S&E. Although progress has occurred in recent years, common recruitment and hiring practices that make extensive use of traditional networks often overlook the available pool of women. Then, once on the job, many women find paternalism, sexual harassment, allegations of reverse discrimination, different standards for judging the work of men and women, lower salary than their male peers, inequitable job assignments, and other aspects of a male-oriented culture that are hostile (even when unintentional) to women (NRC 1). In addition, women find limited opportunities for advancement compared to men, particularly moving into management positions. T

Category: Science - W