The Science Glass Ceiling: Academic Women Scientists And The Struggle To Succeed

The Science Glass Ceiling The Science Glass Ceiling Academic Women Scientists and the Struggle to Succeed Sue V. Rosser NEW YORK AND LONDON Published in 2004 by Routledge 29 West 35th Street New York, New York 10001 www.routledge-ny.com Published in Great Britain by Routledge 11 New Fetter Lane London EC4P 4EE www.routledge.co.uk Copyright © 2004 by Routledge Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group. This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005. “To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.” All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. Rosser, Sue Vilhaur. The science glass ceiling: academic women scientists and the struggle to succeed/by Sue V. Rosser. p. cm. Includes bibliographicasl references and index. ISBN 0-415-94512-7 (hardcover: acid-free paper) ISBN 0-41594513-5 (pbk.: acid-free paper) 1. Women scientists—United States. 2. Discrimination in employment—United States. 3. Sex discrimination in employment—United States. I. Title. Q130.R675 2004 331.4′815′0973–dc22 2003027571 ISBN 0-203-33775-1 Master e-book ISBN In memory of Barbara Lazarus who gave much energy and professional expertise to women in science and engineering Contents Acknowledgments Introduction vi viii 1 Who Are the Women Scientists? 1 2 Opportunities and Challenges 23 3 Life in the Lab 45 4 Differences Across the Disciplines 59 5 The Difference an Institution Makes 83 6 A Brighter Future: Change the Institutions, Not the Women 115 References 147 Index 153 Acknowledgments During the last 6 years, 450 women scientists and engineers have been kind enough to respond to the e-mail questionnaire in which I sought their views on issues they face in their careers as well as their daily lives in the laboratory. I am grateful to each of these women for taking time from their very busy days and perpetual balancing of career and family to answer the questionnaire; I’m especially appreciative of the fifty respondents who permitted me to transgress further on their time by consenting to an in-depth telephone interview. I admire each of these women not only for what she has achieved in her own professional and personal life, but also for her clear commitment to making the path forward easier for other women scientists and engineers. The support from the National Science Foundation, not only in the form of grant HRD -9807594, but also individuals involved with POWRE such as Joan Burelli, Mary Clutter, Sue Kemnitzer, Priscilla Nelson, and Bonnie Sheahan provided the impetus and momentum for this study. Jane Daniels, Director of the Clare Boothe Luce Program of the Henry Luce Foundation, not only provided