A Physics Carreer for Women in Portugal

Ana Maria Eir

University of Lisbon

Bad- Honnef, 28 March 2003

Some numbers

Three different eras How are numbers changing

Understanding the situation Final considerations

Some numbers
A recent study (1) shows that among European countries, Portugal has the highest percentage of women researchers in state laboratories, 58% in natural sciences and 38% in engineering and technologies, and also in higher education where those % are 48% and 29% respectively
Natural Sciences 58% 48% Engineering and Technology 38% 29%

State Laboratories
Universities

Researchers in higher education in Europe (1990)

[Source: European Comission, Eurostat]
60 50

% of Female

40 30 20 10 0 Natural Sciences Engineering & Technology

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Physics Departments of Public Universities

University U. Algarve U. Aveiro UBI U Coimbra U vora U Lisboa U Minho UNL U Porto UTAD UTL Total Full Professor Associated Prof. women total % women total % 1 1 100 1 4 25 4 7 57 3 12 25 0 0 0 5 0 4 9 44 2 10 20 0 3 0 1 8 13 2 10 2 6 12 50 1 5 20 4 7 33 1 3 33 2 6 33 1 8 13 3 8 38 0 0 1 3 33 0 9 0 3 11 27 14 55 26 26 86 30 Assistant Prof. women total 3 11 3 22 1 7 12 34 2 8 12 40 4 21 3 12 7 19 0 3 14 46 61 223 All Cathegories women total % 6 21 29 13 54 24 6 34 18 24 71 34 6 30 20 21 62 34 17 56 30 10 34 29 11 35 31 4 24 17 17 66 26 135 487 28

27 14 14 35 25 30 19 25 37 0 30 27

In the public universities there are about 27% of women in each different category.

R&D Researchers
900,0

800,0

700,0

600,0

Number

500,0

Men Women

400,0

300,0

200,0

Contrary to other fields in physics women have similar representations at all levels. 25% of the physics researchers are women.

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Coordinators of R&D Research Projects

300 250

200

Men 150 Women

100

50

The representation of women in leading physics research positions is similar to their representation at at University positions 21% vs 27%

numbers

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Coordinators of R&D Research Centres 2000

35

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number

20 Men Wom en 15

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The representation is quite smaller in leading physics research plus administrative positions 12% vs 26%

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Comparing different fields of Science

Research in different fields
70,0

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% female..

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Res earchers Coord. Projects Coord. Centres

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1. 2.

In all fields women are not well represented in leadership positions. This is particularly true in health sciences, chemistry and engineering fields. In physics this trend is less stricking.

Three different eras

General situation
A- Until early 70s:
1. social class and not gender selects the access to the university. 2. gender influences the field chosen: girls choose arts and sciences courses secondary school teacher positions other less well paid professions. boys choose technological courses, law and medicine well paid liberal jobs.

B- From mid 70s till early 90s:

1. large growth, qualitative and quantitative, of the Portuguese scientific community 2. political measures give equal opportunities for men and women. 3. better life conditions, economic independence and social ascension are the spring for the fast increase of working women in all fields. 4. advanced studies are a recognized need but research is not yet a priority.

C- The last ten years:

1. R&D gets important financial support from Portugal and Europe 2. political measures duplicate number of PhDs in 5 years. 3. evaluation of R&D research centres starts according to international standards

Starting a Physics Career:

Up to the 70s
The best physics students get very easily a job at the University. After 1-2 years they easily get a grant to prepare PhD abroad. Almost no PhDs in Portugal. After the PhD permanent job at the University

In the 80s
The best physics students get very easily a job at the University. After 4-6 years they can prepare PhD in Portugal or abroad. After the PhD permanent job at the University

In the 90s
The best students get easily a grant to prepare PhD. After PhD the future is uncertain: 1. post-doc grants 2. teaching at private universities with no research structures 3. teaching at politechnics, with no physics department and no research structures 4. older universities, where research groups are organized, dont offer positions

How are numbers changing

Women with PhDs in Exact, Natural and Educational Sciences
1970-1994
Mathematics Physics Chemistry Biology
TOTAL = 1111 Physics = 113

Earth & Space Sciences Agricultural & Veterinary Sciences Health Sciences Mechanical Engeneering Material Sciences and Engeneering Civil and Mining Engeneering Biochemistry

1995-2000

In the last years there was a fast increase of the PhDs in Portugal. For women this was even more striking: in the period 1995-2000 the number of women with PhD in all areas duplicated as compared to the previous 25 years (the exact, natural and educational sciences represent around 70% of all the PhDs for women and men).

TOTAL = 1154 Physics = 32

Chemical Engeneering Electrotechnics and Informatics Educational Sciences

In Physics the situation is very different. For men, the number of PhDs shows a much faster increase than for women.

PhD in Physics
40

Total n of Physics PhDs

35

500
30 25 20 15 10 5 0
19 70 19 72 19 74 19 76 19 78 19 80 19 82 19 84 19 86 19 88 19 90 19 92 19 94 19 96 19 98 20 00

0 1970

1980 year

1990

2000
Men Women

year

Understanding the Situation

What kind of jobs
1. Teaching in the secondary school 2. University career with teaching and possibly research 3. In industry, where almost no research done, engineers are prefered 4. Still very small offer in hospitals

The performance of Women. Role models

1. Women have slightly better perfomance during studies than men In 1996/97, 60.1% of women started a University course in Sciences; 4 years latter from those who finished the course, 67.9% are women 2. It is natural for young people to learn physics from female teachers In 1994/95, among all physics/ chemistry teachers at secundary school 77% are women

3. It is natural for girls to follow their fathers steps

Because of girls being more mature when they go to University, fathers tend to encourage them to choose their own career.

Social and economical conditions

1.With age between 20 and 44, the percentage of working women in general is: 83% if without children; 72% if with children 0-5 years old. 2. Existing organized structures to look after children

3. Enlarged family collaborates in the bringing up of children (particularly true one generation ago when older women did not have professional careers)
4. Until the 80s it was relatively inexpensive to pay for a full time person (always a woman) to look after children.

Some Possible explanations for the relatively high presence of women in physics in Portugal
Women do have to work, even with small children, as it is not possible for a couple to live in one salary Science, physics in particular, is therefore an option It is socially well accepted that mothers go to work A girl does not have to choose between family and career; although difficult, it has been possible to do both Flexibility in the habits and in the system, together with low competitiveness, has been used for a good cause Longer periods for a degree; publications at a smaller rate

Only very recently there was an investment in science in the country, at a time where it was generally accepted equal opportunities for men and women Girls took the opportunity that was offered

BUT

The present unstability beyind a Physics career and the increasing need of mobility, makes it less attractive now to women, who need a stable job, to be able to deal with professional commitment and family life.

Final Considerations
The compatibility of a professional career with a family is an unsolved problem in our society, eventually with no perfect solution. This problem can be partially solved with : 1. flexible working hours

2. flexible working places

3. the existence of support structures for children

4. support from employers, namely in academics, being released from administrative duties and not overburdened with teaching.

[1] EUROSTAT, I. Laafia e A. Larsson, "Women in Public Research and Higher Education in Europe", Theme 9 - 7/2001
[2] Observatrio de Cincia e Tecnologia, http://www.oct.mct.pt e Fundao para a Cincia e Tecnologia, http://www.fct.mct.pt [3] Dina Cano e Isabel de Castro, Situao das Mulheres em Portugal 2001, Comisso para a Igualdade e para os Direitos das Mulheres. [4] L. Amncio, L. e P. vila, O gnero na cincia. In J. C. Jesuno (Coord.), A comunidade cientfica portuguesa nos finais do sculo XX (pp. 135-162). Oeiras: Celta (1995) [5] EUROSTAT, M. Dunne, "Women and Men in Tertiary Education", Theme 3 18/2001 [6] Fsica carreira para mulheres? C. Providncia, S. Andringa, C. Quintans, A. M. Eir, Gazeta de Fsica, vol25/4 (2002) 20

Comments on the slides Slide 1

Although I cannot be present, I would like to share with you some aspects of a Physics career for women in Portugal

Slide 2
The presentation starts with some numbers, followed by the characterization of 3 different eras in time; then it is shown how the numbers are changing, and finally I will give my understanding of the situation

Slide 3
Besides the % of women in research in Portugal, the plot compares that % in different countries in Europe, showing Portugal as having the highest numbers

Slide 4
The table gives the numbers of women and % in the staff of all the Universities that have physics Departments in the country. All categories sums up also tutors (that in Portugal may be part of the staff) when they exists. The plot shows the numbers of researchers (men and women) in different fields. Interesting the numbers of health sciences, biotech and electrotech engeneering

Comments on the slides

Slide 5
In the same areas as before, the plots show a comparison between the numbers of men and women as project leaders (top), and as scientifically responsable for a group (bottom). The last one means both scientific and administrative responsability.

Slide 6
Joining the 3 previous plots together, only with the % of women, show clearly that in spite of the representativeness, the is a clear decrease in the representation for leaders

Slide 7
Three eras are characterized. This slide and the next one are self explanatory

Slide 8

Comments on the slides

Slide 9
Impressive comparison between the numbers of recent 5 years (1995-2000), compared with the 25 previous years (1970-1994). Yet physics does not grow as other sciences do. There is an increase in the preference of women for biogical sciences and related fields, e.g.biochemistry, biotechnology

Slide 10
The rate at which women finish PhD in physics at present is not increasing and does not reflect the recent money investments in sciences. This is contrary to the situation with men, who show a clear increase of the n of PhDs per year.

Slide 11
This slide and the next two are self explanatory

Slide 12

Comments on the slides Slide 13

Some of these are bad reasons so to speak. The enlarged family support is a crucial help, that tends to disapear.

Slide 14
The system has become more internationalized and much more competitive, so it will be harder on women. Many girls now choose not to have children, or to have them later. The general mood is very much career first and family after. That was definitely not the atitude 20 years ago

Slide 15