Female Scientist Interview

questions

For students:

  • What sparked your interest in math/science?

 

  • Have you faced any challenges as a girl in math/science? What are they for you? How have you overcome them?

 

  • Do you see math/science in your future?

 

  • Would you like to say something to encourage other girls starting up or continuing in math/science?

 

  • Do you think the community you live in provide enough resources/pay enough attention for girl in math/science?

 

  • Do you have any advice for girls who are struggling in math/science?

 

  • We’d love to hear about a memorable science/math moment from you.

 

  • What role do you think gender diversity plays in fostering innovation and problem-solving in STEM industries?

 

  • What do you think are the most important qualities/characteristics for women to have in order to thrive in STEM?

 

  • What do you think are the most exciting opportunities for women in STEM today (there are definitely more opportunities for female today, what lead to them)?

 

Some additional questions for teachers:

  • Are there differences between boys and girls you taught in terms of their capabilities and performance?

 

  • In your past teaching experiences, have you encounter any gender bias situations?

 

  • Are there any female students who gave you a deep impression on either their striking performance or their pursuit of math/science?

Women in STEM forum summary

Independent Research, Shattering Stereotypes: An Exploration of Gender Equality

An inherent contradiction in science is that while our exploration of the ultimate truth may be rational, the unfair bias towards people who study it are inherently irrational

Marie Curie- a Case Study

Marie Skłodowska Curie, one of the world’s most celebrated scientists, shattered the glass ceiling of the male-dominated scientific world and proved that women can be true scientists through their own achievements. She studied at the Sorbonne, won the Nobel Prize in Physics and Chemistry, traveled the world as a celebrated scientist, and became the first female professor at the University of Paris. Her life story is one of brilliance and accomplishment, and today she might be one of the most famous scientists in history. However, despite her incredible achievements, she was held back by gender bias.

Many of Curie’s life choices were impacted by her being a woman. Women weren’t allowed to attend university in her native Poland, and so Marie was forced to leave home to study at the Sorbonne in Paris. As a young scientist, Curie faced unimaginable obstacles. She had trouble obtaining a laboratory and income as a scientist. Despite the prejudice and discrimination, she faced, she was determined to be a true scientist.

Marie married Pierre Curie, a fellow scientist in 1895. Unlike many men at the time, Pierre supported Marie in her science, vouched for her, and shared his lab. Marie was able to take advantage of the respect her husband received to publicize her discoveries.

The Curies were brilliant researchers and discovered radium and radioactivity. However, Marie did not receive her share of credit. After their discovery, Pierre was invited to speak at the Royal Institution in London, but Marie was not allowed. In 1903, the Curies won a Nobel Prize in Physics. Despite the fact that Marie was as equal a contributor to the research as Pierre, it was only the advocacy of powerful male scientists that led to her receiving the prize. After they won, Pierre was offered positions at multiple prestigious universities, but due to her gender Marie was not.

It wasn’t until her husband’s tragic death, that Marie was offered an academic position that matched her accomplishments, and that was only because the University of Paris let Marie take over Pierre’s position. That led to her being the first female professor there. Even then, Marie still did not have access to the full scientific community. She was not admitted to the French Academy of Sciences and had to research on her own. In 1911 Marie Curie won her second Nobel Prize for isolating radium, becoming the first person to win two Nobel Prizes.

Despite her incredible accomplishments, the media attention Marie Curie received was always based on her gender. Articles focused on her role as a mother and drummed up scandals about her romantic relationships. The fact that she was foreign compounded the discrimination she faced, a problem that persists today.

If Marie had the same opportunities and environments that male scientists had at the time, who knows what extraordinary scientific accomplishments she could achieve? Marie was lucky because she had the support of Pierre, but she shouldn’t have needed that luck. She herself was a scientist and that should have been enough.

Marie’s story is not unique to her. This injustice is a cultural norm. Throughout history, women have been excluded from educational opportunities, especially those in the sciences. Even 100 years after Marie Curie showed what’s possible, there are fewer female scientists than male scientists. Even today, stereotypes that women aren’t as scientifically inclined are prevalent. From the time they are children, females hear that they aren’t intelligent enough to be in science, and look around and see that the scientists around them are mostly men. An important study showed that girls who were asked their gender before a math test did worse on the test than girls who weren’t. These experiences stick in people’s heads and cause them to doubt their own abilities, and think of themselves as “women who are incapable of doing science.”

Changing the Fundamental Cause of Gender Bias

The 20th century is notable for its fight for civil rights. Throughout the world, people fought for gender, racial and religious equality. Women fought against gender inequality both in the sciences and in the rest of society. Women started to form organizations and clubs to discuss and revolt against gender inequalities. Over the last 100 years, more women entered science which led to a change in society’s attitude toward women scientists. Women began getting recognized for their contributions, became mentors, and started inspiring the next generation of women scientists.

However, today, we still live in a male-dominated society, and men still occupy the majority of leadership positions in government, business, and social life. According to the Inter-Parliamentary Union’s data in 2021, women held only about 25.5% of parliamentary seats and 10% of heads of state or government worldwide. Women are underrepresented in executive positions in large corporations around the world. Only 10% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women. This is a global issue with a huge impact. When women aren’t represented in leadership, their voices are diminished. This is the same in science. The percentage of women in the global scientific workforce has stubbornly hovered around 30% for over a decade, and a high rate of women are quitting science due to gender pay gaps and bias.

Society should be aiming for more than equal access to resources and opportunities for all genders. We should not only work for a change in the number of women involved in science but also a change in mindset. Women should empower every woman to be confident that they are capable of pursuing a career in science as Marie did.

Mentoring by women scientists is definitely not enough.  there has to be more channel to 

pushing the movement further forward. Guilds, or professional organizations, are one of the channels for women scientists to pursue equality at work. What guilds need to do is increase the proportion of women leaders in the community, speak up for female workers in all occupations, defend the legitimate rights and interests of women, and eventually boost the formation of more women’s unions, especially women scientists’ associations.

Government action is necessary to combat gender bias. Legislative bodies should pass laws to ensure that women’s rights and interests in work and life are protected, and at the same time encourage and guide women to enter the authoritative class in various industries, which includes female scientific researchers. Executives need to ensure that laws work as intended and provide positive guidance to the public through social media or giving speeches. They also have to provide women with better education and knowledge to be at the same starting point as men. Lastly, the judiciary should interpret laws in ways that are neutral rather than patriarchal.

Marie Curie made great contributions to the progress of human science and technology. What society needs to do should not only praise her contributions but also make it a paradigm and expand its influence.

It took generations for women to obtain the right to vote, but it is taking even longer to shift stereotypes and cultural norms. Women have always faced challenges and struggles, and the fight we face today is part of this larger fight.

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A high schooler who loves Physics and Astronomy more than a reasonable person should.

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