Evidence overwhelmingly shows structural barriers to women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields, and suggests that the onus cannot be on women alone to confront the gender bias in our community. Here, I share my experience as a scientist and a woman who has collected data during more than ten years of scientific training about how best to navigate the academic maze of biases and barriers. How the entire scientific community can confront gender bias in the workplace(opens in new window). Kathleen E. Grogan, Nature Ecology and Evolution (2018).
Repairing the leaky STEM pipeline: Research shows that 38% of scientist-mothers were offered fewer professional opportunities since becoming parents, compared with 13% of scientist-fathers — and that was pre-pandemic. Dr. Isabel Torres, co-founder and CEO of Mothers in Science, gives an informative talk, "Is motherhood causing a critical leak in the STEMM pipeline?" You can find a list of free videos on related conference talks and panels on this page Motherhood and career retention STEMM. While none of these talks offer slamdunk solutions, they encourage flexibility, moms in senior leadership, culture reflecting policies an institution espouses, work-life integration, and offering professional development opportunities (e.g. courses and fellowships/financial support) for moms in STEM.
Reducing conflicts at home: Division of household tasks with your partner or family members can be more fairly distributed by physical task cards, according to EveRodsky, the author of Fair Play. See attached for free copy of cards which can be organized in categories listed on the website FairPlay.
