Mapping the Maze: Getting More Women to the Top in Research

Citation

Wischermann, U. (2009), "Mapping the Maze: Getting More Women to the Top in Research", Equal Opportunities International, Vol. 28 No. 1, pp. 112-113. https://doi.org/10.1108/02610150910933695

All data that are available up to now clearly show the distinct gap between men and women in leading research positions. The brochure Mapping the Maze sums up the conclusions of a multinational group of experts from fifteen different countries representing different universities, research organizations and national ministries; its name is Women in Research and Decision Making (WIRDEM). The duty of the group, which worked on behalf of the European Commission, has been to identify specific factors that hinder women's progress in the scientific field and to develop supporting measures and criteria of equality. Furthermore the brochure provides a current overview of the topic “gender and research” that encompasses all levels of the scientific career.

As their first step the authors take a closer look at structures and regulations in different European countries (chapter 1). After that they present quantitative data about men and women in leading positions as well as the informal barriers that prevent a stronger participation of women (chapter 2). In chapter 3 they present examples of good practice that are already implemented or are on the verge of being implemented. Finally, the WIRDEM group comes up with suggestions for the future (chapter 4).

For “insiders” the conclusions of the report are hardly surprising. It gives a broad and close overview of the complex patterns of structural discrimination, institutional barriers and indirect and/or hidden discrimination that leads to a relative lack of women in leading positions in universities. Besides that, it provides important and new aspects in its concentration on the question of women in higher‐ranking positions in science and research, positions that are known as traditional beyond‐the‐glass‐ceiling jobs.

The authors claim that there has to be a change in the scientific culture to get more women into these top‐ranking positions. It is one of the more current insights that anti‐discrimination laws and programs that promote women in science are not always as useful as they should be. WIRDEM points out that quite often these measures and regulations are nothing but a façade and they are pointless without seriously questioning the male‐centred structures and the prejudices (p. 12). One of these prejudices is that “women teach, men think” (p. 13).

Up to now there are not many examples of a better practice. But in my view as well as the view of the authors of “Mapping the Maze”, there are a number of conditions and circumstances that are essential for gender equality at universities. Besides quotas, programmes, transparent policies of appointment and the distribution of resources, there are topics like parenthood, childcare, work‐life balance and also the emergence of women‐centred mentoring networks that are needed as a means of empowerment for women in science and research.

In their final recommendations WIRDEM opts for an intervening EU policy that forces universities and other institutions of research to implement standards and measures that enforce gender equality. The report closes with an overview about the specific structures of the university system in different countries. I recommend this report for all of us who are interested in women in science‐ and/or gender‐specific questions.