Domestic pressures and the demands of raising a family are not the only reasons women in India give up pursuing pure science studies and research. Institutional barriers,organisational biases,lack of opportunity and discriminatory policies are equally responsible,according to a poll of women scientists conducted by researchers at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS),Bangalore. The study,sponsored by the Indian Academy of Sciences,Bangalore,covered 568 women scientists,312 of whom were engaged in science research (WIR),182 were not engaged in positions of long-term science research,(WNR) and 74 were not working (WNW). The highest proportion of WNW (46%) were married to doctorates working in science research,teaching and/or doing consultancy. Several science institutions have informal policies that prevent the employment of spouses in the same organisation. The higher number of WNW having spouses in science may be a reflection of this. Several respondents stated that implementation of such informal policies may have affected their prospective employment in the same, says the study,Beyond family and societal attitudes to retain women in science,published in the January 10,2011 issue of the journal Current Science. Around 68% of WNW reported that they did not get jobs they applied for. The corresponding responses for WIR and WNR were 28% and 42% respectively. Around 22% of WNW stated difficulties in finding jobs,institutions or advisers,affecting their continuity. Family reasons were also cited WIR (13%),WNR (14%) and WNW (3%). The data reveals an important point that although marriage,particularly to men scientists,and other family factors may place indirect constraints on women,organisational biases and discriminatory policies are constraining factors,leading women to drop out of science. The study is significant as it goes beyond traditional beliefs of family and childcare responsibilities being the reason for women dropping out,and highlights the need to provide supportive and facilitative mechanisms at workplaces, said Anitha Kurup,who authored the study along with her colleague at NIAS,R Maithreyi. The study finds that only 2.5% of male scientists were never married as compared to 14% of women,indicating that family responsibilities do not appear as hurdles for men as they do for women. The study shows organisational facilities to be important to counter breaks in career,with a considerably larger number of women reporting breaks in comparison to men. The reasons given by WIR were childcare/eldercare responsibilities (48%) or transfer of spouse/father (12%). There were no responses from men indicating the same reasons for breaks in career. Men (86%),rather cited reasons such as further studies,voluntary retirement and poor health. Its crucial for organisations to develop mechanisms like childcare facilities,accommodation of spouses in the same institute,and allowing women (or men) to take their jobs to another city/town when their spouses get transferred. Else,it will be very difficult to retain women in science, said Kurup. An important finding is that despite family and childcare responsibilities,the women surveyed spent the requisite 8-10 hours every day on research. While this may not be an indicator of quality,the findings disprove the myth that women cannot provide enough time for work and research after marriage and childbirth due to family responsibilities, says the study. The paper recommends the introduction of mentoring programmes with incentives for mentors,and suggests modification of existing schemes for re-entry of women to pursue science. The authors have proposed facilities like accommodation on campus,transportation and childcare to help women juggle multiple responsibilities. ABLE BUT (OFTEN) CANT 90% WOMEN scientists surveyed were married,showing a majority have managed to balance career and family 59% MEN said women dropped out of science due to family commitments; 52% women gave the same reason 7% WOMEN said they could not take up positions due to inflexible hours,no room for professional growth and lack of childcare facilities; only 1% men said the same 46% WOMEN in not working category were married to Ph.Ds working in science research,teaching and/or engaged in consultancy 60% WOMEN researchers cited childcare responsibilities or transfer of spouse/father as reasons for breaks in career; 86% men gave reasons like further studies and voluntary retirement
