Nordics strike a gender balance in science

Date: 20/04/06

The low representation of women in science was for a long time a matter of anecdotal rather then scientific evidence.

But data collection and monitoring improved after the European Commission established a group of national representatives on women in science, which met for the first time in Helsinki in 1999.

Statistics compiled by the Helsinki Group on Women in Science show that, of the 31 countries surveyed, including all the 25 current EU member states, in only three countries did women occupy nearly half of the positions on scientific boards: Sweden, Finland and Norway. At the other end of the spectrum, in Poland women made up a paltry 7.7% of scientific boards.

For the EU, the problem is acute. If it is to reach its goal of creating 500,000-700,000 new research jobs by 2010, then the EU's pool of scientists has to be enlarged.

So far the Commission has focused much of its attention on developing networks and sharing best practice. In the Commission's research department, there is a unit on women and science, looking at the obstacles to recruiting and retaining women scientists in the workforce. The Commission promotes the participation of women scientists in activities funded by its research framework programmes, but the targets of 40% representation by women on committees, advisory groups and evaluation panels have not been met.

"More than half of graduates are women, but as you near the top of the hierarchy the numbers drop," said Adelina Huminic-Orzu of the recently established European Platform of Women Scientists.

According to Huminic-Orzu, the attrition rate is a waste of money.

"This is a loss of resources. Investments have been made in training women, who then for whatever reason, give up research or teaching."

According to the Commission, 14% of senior academic positions are occupied by women. Only in Latvia, Portugal and Finland are 20% or more of full professors female, despite female university graduates outnumbering their male counterparts since the early 1990s.

Today women make up an estimated 58% of graduates across the EU.

So far policies aimed at correcting this imbalance have shown only limited results.

In 1999-2002 the number of full professorships held by women rose from 13% to 14%. Figures for those working in industry are slightly better.

Broadly, two types of action have been attempted, 'positive discrimination' and attempting to change habits across the board.

In Nordic countries positive results have largely been achieved through 'gender mainstreaming', making sure all legislation is moving in the same direction and promoting gender awareness throughout society. But critics argue this approach has worked particularly well in countries like Sweden and Finland principally because they are small and largely consensual societies. It may not work in larger, more polarised societies, they argue.

Other measures of positive discrimination, creating quotas, reserving professorships for women, or setting targets, remain politically sensitive and, some argue, divisive.

But according to Huminic-Orzu, the problem is also structural, with more part-time jobs and kindergartens needed to address childcare obligations which women face in almost all European societies.

Author takes a look at the issue of gender imbalance in the field of science and the European Commission's action against it.
Article is part of European Voice Special Report, 'The EU and women'.

European Commission: CORDIS: Human Potential: Programme Activities: Women and Science http://www.cordis.lu/improving/women/home.htm

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