Dancers in the Dark: Scientific Careers According to a Gender-Blind Model of Promotion

Abstract

The disparity between men and women in science is a hot topic in gender studies and a relevant target of scientific policies. The leaky pipeline metaphor illustrates the decreasing number of women along senior positions in academia; however many questions remain unanswered. What factors progressively diminish the number of women in scientific careers and why do they appear to be less successful than their male colleagues? In order to discover new insight, this work compares men's and women's career paths by taking into account academic and family milestones achieved throughout the life course. An innovative and interdisciplinary methodology (from bibliometrics, statistics, and sociology) has been constructed to examine men's and women's trajectories. Findings display gender differences in scientists' trajectories. The evolution of scientists' careers reveals linear careers for males, whilst women develop non-linear careers. Motherhood emerges as a problem for developing linear careers. And collegiate decisions of gatekeepers seem to systematically disfavour women scientists' careers.

La disparidad entre hombres y mujeres en la ciencia es un tema candente en los estudios de género y un objetivo relevante de las políticas científicas. Se ha construido una metodología innovadora e interdisciplinaria (de bibliometría, estadísticas y sociología) para examinar las trayectorias de los hombres y las mujeres. Los resultados muestran diferencias de género en las trayectorias de los científicos.

La disparitat entre homes i dones en la ciència és un tema candent en els estudis de gènere i un objectiu rellevant de les polítiques científiques. S'ha construït una metodologia innovadora i interdisciplinària (de bibliometria, estadístiques i sociologia) per examinar les trajectòries dels homes i les dones. Els resultats mostren diferències de gènere en les trajectòries dels científics.