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Gender Studies in Mathematics and Other Sciences

Critique of “Understanding current causes of women’s underrepresentation in science” by Cathy Kessel and Marie A. Vitulli

The recent article Understanding current causes of women’s underrepresentation in science by Ceci and Williams (Proc. of the National Academy of Sciences, February 7, 2011) has left some of us with more questions than answers. The authors conclude that overt discrimination in publishing and hiring is no longer a deterrent after conducting a statistical analysis. Other scientists point out statistical errors, gaps in reasoning, and omission of relevant research. Instead of discrimination, Ceci and Williams propose 3 factors that explain the underrepresentation of women in “math-intensive” sciences: fertility/lifestyle choices, career preferences, and mathematics ability.

Both the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) and the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) have featured criticisms of the Ceci and Williams article on their websites. Former AWM President Cathy Kessel and Univerity of Oregon Math Professor Marie Vitulli wrote a widely-cited critique which you can read here. Links to this critique as well as other reactions to this and other recent works by Ceci and Williams can be found on the AWM website. Here is a link to the AWM home page where you can read more about this topic and find additional resources.

An Update: Are Women Getting All the Jobs? by Mary E. Flahive, Oregon State University, and Marie A. Vitulli, University of Oreogn.

This update to the 1997 Notices article listed below, looks at gender differences in first jobs for new Ph.D.s between 1996 and 2008 and finds that there are noticeable differences in types of first jobs and differences in “comparable” job rates. The article appeared in the Notices of the American Mathematical Society 57(2010), 984-986.

Are Women Getting All the Jobs? by Marie A. Vitulli, University of Oregon, and Mary E. Flahive, Oregon State University

Results of an analysis for gender differences in employment for new Ph.D.s in mathematics. The article appeared in the Notices of the American Mathematical Society 44(1997), 338-339.

Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering

Women, Minorities, and Persons with Disabilities in Science and Engineering provides statistical information about the participation of women, minorities, and persons with disabilities in science and engineering education and employment. A formal report, now in the form of a digest, is issued every 2 years by the National Science Foundation. You can view the accompanying chart on degrees in the physical sciences and mathematics going to women between 1989 and 2008 here.

A National Analysis of Minorities in Science and Engineering Faculties at Research Universities by Donna J. Nelson and Christopher N. Brammer

This is a study of faculty diversity in the top 50 Departments in Mathematics, Computer Science, Chemistry, Physics, and Electrical, Civil, and Mechanical Engineering. A wealth of data is summarized in the study.

New Data on Women in Higher Education released by the Program on the Status and Education of Women (PSEW), which is part of the Association of American Colleges and Universities.

Gender Differences at Critical Transititions in the Careers of Science, Engineering, and Mathematics Faculty This report by the National Academies presents new and surprising findings about career differences between female and male full-time, tenure-track, and tenured faculty in science, engineering, and mathematics at the nation’s top research universities. Much of this congressionally mandated book is based on two unique surveys of faculty and departments at major U.S. research universities in six fields: biology, chemistry, civil engineering, electrical engineering, mathematics, and physics. The link takes you to a site where you can buy the complete study or download a free PDF summary.

Dual Career Academics Researchers at the Michelle R. Clayman Institute for Gender Research at Stanford University have done an extensive study of dual-career academic couples. Researchers in the Clayman study surveyed over 9000 full-time faculty members at 13 leading U.S. research universities. Over 36% of those surveyed have academic partners and dual-career hires increased from 3% in 1970 to 13% in the 2000s. The study as well as many other resources can be found on this website.

The NETWISE research group is a multi-institutional research group that conducts research on questions related to how social and professional networks matter in the careers of academic scientists, with special attention to women and underrepresented minorities. The research is funded through two major NSF grants.

• NETWISE I: Women in Science and Engineering: Network Acces, Participation, and Career Outcomes
• NETWISE II: Empirical Research: Breaking throught the Repuutational Ceiling: Professional Networsk as a Determinant of Advancement, Mobility, and Career Outcomes for Women and Minorities in STEM.