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Beyond Bias and Barriers
This week is the one-year anniversary of the National Academy of Sciences report “Beyond Bias and Barriers: Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering.” I’ve been meaning to write about this for a while, because it’s essential reading for anyone interested in careers of women in science.
The related NY Times article by Cornelia Dean is newly free and shorter. Dean reports that
[E]xtensive previous research showed a pattern of unconscious but pervasive bias, “arbitrary and subjective” evaluation processes and a work environment in which “anyone lacking the work and family support traditionally provided by a ‘wife’ is at a serious disadvantage.”
In other words, research doesn’t support the idea that innate differences in women’s and men’s abilities or a lack of women in the academic pipeline is responsible for women’s underrepresentation in science. Instead, bias is holding women back.
This is good news for women: the National Academy of Sciences is saying we don’t have to feel quite so stupid.
They even have recommendations for change. The short version, from Dean’s article:
Among other steps, the report recommends altering procedures for hiring and evaluation, changing typical timetables for tenure and promotion, and providing more support for working parents.
Sounds good. But what are the odds universities will actually do any of this?