Not a welcoming place

Abstract

It is becoming increasingly undeniable that more women than men leave academic research. A string of publications have detailed the problem, looked at the reasons and highlighted the economic consequences of the high attrition rate among female scientists. Both the US National Science Foundation (NSF; Arlington, VA, USA) and the European Commission (EC; Brussels, Belgium) have expressed concerns that the disappearance of highly skilled women from academic research causes a considerable drag on economic performance and inhibits economic growth (EC, 2006; NSF, 2004, 2006). Most of these studies have focused only on publicly‐funded academic research; however, it seems that the private sector is facing the same problem, according to a recent study on the attitudes and perceptions of women in science, engineering and technology (SET) companies (Hewlett et al , 2008). > Although SET companies are struggling with a shortfall of skilled workers […] roughly 52% of women between the ages of 35 and 40 leave their jobs… Released in May 2008, The Athena Factor: Reversing the Brain Drain in Science, Engineering, and Technology , the final report of the Center for Work–Life Policy (New York, NY, USA), shows that although 41% of scientists, engineers and other skilled technology workers on the lower rungs of the corporate career ladder are female, there is a dearth of women at higher positions, which mirrors the situation in academic research. “While considerable research has investigated the situation of women in academic research, women in the private sector have been largely ignored and their problems are poorly understood”, said Laura Sherbin, Director of Research at the Center for Work–Life Policy and co‐author of the study. The implication of the study is that there is a serious problem in the private sector. Although SET companies are struggling with a shortfall of skilled workers and …