CoS & CHM - IDEA Community of Practice Seminar

Associate Professor Joanna Sikora | College of Arts and Social Sciences

When and how does segregation by gender occur across the sciences.

Insights from Australian and comparative survey research on adolescents and young adults.

Abstract: In this talk, I summarise several insights from research on gender and science, which I have been undertaking since 2010. Some argue that to achieve gender equity, science departments have to hire 50% of female-identifying and gender diverse academics. However, this argument overlooks the significance and persistence of gender segregation in science aspirations among children, adolescents and young adults. I make four points drawing on comprehensive empirical data. First, persistent divides exist in science-specialisation preferences between young men and women across countries and educational contexts. Despite energetic efforts and funds dispensed to foster equity, there has been no discernible change since 2006 in the patterns of gender segregation that characterise science-related occupational plans of adolescents. Second, individual preferences for science careers fluctuate significantly between adolescence and adulthood. For instance, women who want to be engineers at age 16 are mostly not the same women who commence university engineering degrees, which is not necessarily good news. Third, segregation depends on structural ramifications but also self-sorting fueled by cultural and institutional changes. For example, younger cohorts turn away from studying advanced secondary mathematics more so than their older peers. Fourth, what to do to bridge gender segregation is in principle well-known – the challenge is to implement such all-encompassing changes.