Proactive Strategies for Advancing Women in Proactive Strategies for Advancing Women in ScienceScience

ICI2004, Montreal, CanadaICI2004, Montreal, Canada

US Universities and Faculty WomenUS Universities and Faculty Women

Paula KavathasPaula Kavathas

Professor of Laboratory Medicine, Professor of Laboratory Medicine, Immunobiology, and GeneticsImmunobiology, and Genetics

Yale University School of MedicineYale University School of Medicine

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sPercentage of female students and faculty Percentage of female students and faculty

in immunology programs of US in immunology programs of US universities(2000universities(2000))

Data from:Data from:

P Kavathas and L P Kavathas and L Soong, Nature Soong, Nature Immunology 2:985 Immunology 2:985 (2001)(2001)

Faculty

Students

The percentage of female faculty is substantially less than expected based on the percentage of women receiving Ph.D.s during the last 20 years. It is not a matter of insufficient numbers in the pipeline but rather a clog.

Women have made important contributions throughout Women have made important contributions throughout history to the field of science with giants such as Marie Curie, history to the field of science with giants such as Marie Curie, Barbara McClintock and Rosalind Franklin. Barbara McClintock and Rosalind Franklin.

The presence of women and the factor of gender have The presence of women and the factor of gender have shaped disciplines and changed avenues of explorations, shaped disciplines and changed avenues of explorations, creativity, and policy.creativity, and policy.

By creating diversity in academia, we increase the range of By creating diversity in academia, we increase the range of scientific problems under investigation and the range of scientific problems under investigation and the range of minds trying to understand our world. minds trying to understand our world.

Women in leadership roles contribute to the betterment of all Women in leadership roles contribute to the betterment of all women (e.g.their efforts led to requiring the involvement of women (e.g.their efforts led to requiring the involvement of women in clinical trials)women in clinical trials)

Women working in their chosen profession can be Women working in their chosen profession can be psychologically happierpsychologically happier

Why Does Gender Matter?Why Does Gender Matter?

Accept and Seek Accept and Seek Leadership Positions in Your Career.Leadership Positions in Your Career.

Women in Leadership Positions MatterWomen in Leadership Positions Matter

1. 1. Running a lab is like running a small business-Running a lab is like running a small business-

Get some management training. Get some management training.

Don’t be afraid of ‘big’Don’t be afraid of ‘big’

You won’t be able to do everything quite as well as you You won’t be able to do everything quite as well as you

may like-but in the long run you will make a may like-but in the long run you will make a differencedifference

2. Build a support network2. Build a support network

3. Envision a “women” majority department where you will get 3. Envision a “women” majority department where you will get the best women and they will be productive.the best women and they will be productive.

4. Take the long view of an academic career4. Take the long view of an academic career

Personnel, Academic, and Professional Lives Personnel, Academic, and Professional Lives

StrategiesStrategies

Balance between Inner Directive and Societies Expectations Balance between Inner Directive and Societies Expectations (risk taking)(risk taking)

Balance Work and FamilyBalance Work and FamilyThe goal within reach is a world in which parents of both The goal within reach is a world in which parents of both sexes mix work and family responsibilities; the reality is a sexes mix work and family responsibilities; the reality is a world that’s often split between a well-educated male wage world that’s often split between a well-educated male wage earner and an equally well-educated female caregiver. earner and an equally well-educated female caregiver. “At “At

Home and Work, Still a Man’s World” by Emily Bazelon and Judith Resnik.Home and Work, Still a Man’s World” by Emily Bazelon and Judith Resnik. Get as much help at home as possible. Get as much help at home as possible. Create a partnership with your spouse.Create a partnership with your spouse. Make choices-there are different times in life for different thingsMake choices-there are different times in life for different things There are different models of a “good mom”. There are different models of a “good mom”. Children were raised by extended families throughout history so Children were raised by extended families throughout history so

having multiple adults involved in a child’s life can be very positive.having multiple adults involved in a child’s life can be very positive.

BalanceBalance

The WFF began with a group of female faculty coming together The WFF began with a group of female faculty coming together from different departments to organize a conference at Yale’s from different departments to organize a conference at Yale’s Tercentennial celebration to highlight the lives and works of Tercentennial celebration to highlight the lives and works of Yale alumnae that were female. Its broader purpose was to Yale alumnae that were female. Its broader purpose was to build a sustainable base for a stronger community among the build a sustainable base for a stronger community among the women faculty at Yale and for a stronger connection between women faculty at Yale and for a stronger connection between women faculty and alumnae. This effort was supported by the women faculty and alumnae. This effort was supported by the offices of the President and Provost by providing money to offices of the President and Provost by providing money to hire a program coordinator, a research associate and to fund hire a program coordinator, a research associate and to fund events. Overall purposes:events. Overall purposes:

To promote scholarship on gender and scholarship by and To promote scholarship on gender and scholarship by and about womenabout women

To foster gender equity throughout the universityTo foster gender equity throughout the university To promote collegiality and networking on these issues To promote collegiality and networking on these issues

between faculty, students, administration and alumnae. between faculty, students, administration and alumnae.

Women’s Faculty Forum (WFF) At YaleWomen’s Faculty Forum (WFF) At Yale‘Women Coming Together’‘Women Coming Together’

Welcome new women faculty and administratorsWelcome new women faculty and administrators Seminars :Seminars :

Structures of Work and FamiliesStructures of Work and FamiliesCitizenship/borders and GenderCitizenship/borders and GenderProfessional Development Workshop SeriesProfessional Development Workshop SeriesWomen Mentoring WomenWomen Mentoring WomenMarie Curie Centennial: Celebrating Women in ScienceMarie Curie Centennial: Celebrating Women in ScienceWomen in A Changing WorldWomen in A Changing World

Prepare Reports and Publications:Prepare Reports and Publications: Childcare Report Childcare Report Parental Leave PoliciesParental Leave Policies A Snapshot-Status of WomenA Snapshot-Status of Women Task Force on Promotion and Retention of Junior FacultyTask Force on Promotion and Retention of Junior Faculty Gender Matters: Women and Yale in its Third CenturyGender Matters: Women and Yale in its Third Century

WFF InitiativesWFF Initiatives

Picture from

HHMI Bulletin June 2002 “Accomplished Women” by Kathryn Brown

A young woman is aiming high and creating her own ladder.

I would modify this picture by adding senior faculty sitting on the branches cheering the young girl on and giving advice. I would also add some monkey-like humans eating their bananas ignoring the issue.Since the MIT report in 1999 documenting tangible inequities in

salary, space,administrative positions for senior female faculty in biology, inequities at other schools have been revealed. Attempts to address those inequities are being made. Less tangible barriers are harder to erase such as men seeing women as “stars” or as true peers. That will only change when we have a sufficient number of women so that the female faculty have a real voice in deciding who are the “stars”.