Bias Persists Against Women of Science, a Study Says

[alp227]

Last edited Tue Sep 25, 2012, 03:39 AM - Edit history (1)

Source: NYT

Science professors at American universities widely regard female undergraduates as less competent than male students with the same accomplishments and skills, a new study by researchers at Yale concluded.

As a result, the report found, the professors were less likely to offer the women mentoring or a job. And even if they were willing to offer a job, the salary was lower.

The bias was pervasive, the scientists said, and probably reflected subconscious cultural influences rather than overt or deliberate discrimination.

Female professors were just as biased against women students as their male colleagues, and biology professors just as biased as physics professors — even though more than half of biology majors are women, whereas men far outnumber women in physics.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/25/science/bias-persists-against-women-of-science-a-study-says.html

[Warpy]

1. My initials got a full letter grade higher than my name did

in engineering school in the 60s. I was hoping things had changed a bit since then. Guess not.

[marshall]

2. Actually, the bias is against women of science, not for them

The URL gets it correct, but not the headline.

[alp227]

6. Headline now revised for print.

[Betsy Ross]

3. And we still get paid less.

But it is better.
I was so excited when I saw the VP of Engineering interview a woman. We now have four women in an engineering department of about 30.

[judesedit]

4. I totally disagree.I worked at a university for 9 years assisting with the graduate and PhD programs

in engineeering, ocean, to be exact. I would hear professors talk amongst themselves about how the females were doing better all around than most males. Whether they admit it openly, I'm not sure, but I've heard it said more than once by more than one professor. Although, the girls feel intimidated at first, they seem to focus and do really well once they realize they can do just as well as the guys....or better. I won't go into the different fields one can specialize in, but believe me, you'd better be on the ball to get a degree in any one of them. That glass ceiling is finally being shattered. Women can do anything they put their minds to. And juggle many things at once as many do in their daily lives. Actually, I don't see men doing half of what women do. This world would fall apart if there were no women. Mothers are the most important people in this world, but really get little recognition, and many get no pay for being on-call 24/7 for years. We are probably one of the last countries to elect a woman leader. But, thank goodness, that day is coming.

[Donowitz]

5. A good reality check

Anyone who thinks that male privilege doesn't exist could read this article a few times.

Male privilege exists in all parts of the economy (specifically white male privilege), but nowhere is it more evident in places like science, mathematics and engineering.