A recent report by the L’Oréal Foundation exposes the woeful gender imbalance in science.
By Amy Noble (Editorial Assistant, Women 2.0)
Put simply, the dramatic under-representation of women in the world of science stems from one sad fact: they just don’t see science as a viable career path… because of gender stereotypes.
If these negative gender stereotypes around science didn’t exist, the world would benefit from 300,000 additional doctors in science annually, the report has found. The Boston Consulting Group analysed data from 14 countries and discovered that, whilst in high school, girls perform just as well in sciences as their male counterparts. This is, of course, when the study of sciences is compulsory, rather than a choice.
However, upon graduation, the report finds, the number of women entering scientific careers drastically declines. Why? Because most women simply do not see science as a viable career path.
L’Oréal USA is seeking to challenge this through its Fellowships For Women in Science program, which seeks to raise awareness of the contribution of women to the sciences and identify exceptional women researchers to serve as role models for younger generations.
Did you ever consider a career in the sciences?
Amy is a freelance editor and writer based in London. She is also a copywriter and project manager at a branding and creative agency and a freelance translator (from French into English). She studied Modern Languages at Queens’ College, Cambridge.