Women in Science: Challenges to Gender Equality in Education and Development

• In Event: Women, Science and Development: Lessons from Educational Projects

Abstract

This research analyzes the complex relationships between gender and scientific careers. The empirical study compares the academic insertion of men and women in engineering and computer sciences in Brazil. It's geared towards understanding the ways in which social, cultural and university structures facilitate and/or impede the choices of men and women in science. It also seeks to examine the career paths of top male and female researchers in science who carry out their professional activities within the university environment and their academic trajectories. It strives to assess the results and limits of formulated and implemented public policies in Brazil focused on increasing the numbers of women in scientific careers. Women’s scientific careers remain markedly characterized by the phenomena of “glass ceiling” and “sticky floor” (Hymowitz, Schellhardt, 1986; Booth, Francesconi, Frank, 2003). The image of the Leaky Pipeline (Alper, 2003) applies to every academic level. Bourdieu's work on the functioning of the scientific field have highlighted the existence of power structures within, in which the male-dominated plays a crucial role in maintaining men's dominance over the careers of women. An analysis of the current day unequal access of women in scientifics careers implies empirically the theoretical limits of an explanation indicating the occurrence of a democratization of women's access in higher education. Rather, this research explores theoretically and empirically the influence of gender, - as one dimension of social structure (Mouzelis, 2008; Lemert, 2001) that favors the professional careers of men and hinders the development of the academic activity of women.

Author

• Leticia Cortellazzi Garcia, Universidade de Brasilia