Why are women scientists shunning the top jobs?

To understand this better, last December, the British Council hosted a panel discussion on women in science with participants from academia in the UK and Hong Kong as well as the Equal Opportunities Commission. Many issues concerned the lack of female representation in senior research roles and the demands of childcare.

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The suggestion that the female recruitment base is simply not big enough for qualified candidates to be identified warrants probing. During the discussion, one panellist pointed out that women tend not to put themselves forward for senior positions because they perceive themselves as less qualified. This suggests a nurtured lack of confidence. However, studies demonstrate that both men and women share common attitudes and traits such as fear of success, suggesting that gender differences are not categorical.

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So is it structural barriers that lead to this pool of qualified women candidates being so small? Women tend to gravitate towards the type of work and workplaces that provide greater flexibility, especially if they have childcare commitments. This might suggest that female scientists with such commitments are shying away from intensive scientific work that may involve unpredictably long hours. The right questions to be pondered are: can universities and research companies encourage a healthy work-life integration; can governments implement family-friendly policies?