Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Rachel Ivie and Casey Tesfaye Funded by Henry Luce Foundation T HE E FFECTS OF L IMITED R ESOURCES AND O PPORTUNITIES ON W OMEN ’ S C AREERS IN P HYSICS : R ESULTS FROM THE G LOBAL S URVEY OF P HYSICISTS

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Why survey women in physics? 2 Source: US Department of Education

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Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 (Spain) “It is difficult when you are, as I have been, the only woman in a conference. Or when people interrupt, or do not listen or even laugh at what you are saying, even if it is important. Or when advisors or mentors could not believe that I’d done the work myself.” 4

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Although representation is very low We also must have data on other factors that affect women’s careers In this study, we focus on – Opportunities – Resources – Work and family Will touch briefly on educational experiences 5

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Why a Global Survey of Physicists? Goal: To describe common problems that women in physics across the world face in their work and studies With Women’s Working Group of IUPAP, AIP has done 3 global surveys 6

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 The first two global surveys of physicists More than 1000 women from more than 50 countries responded to each survey Only women were included English only 7

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Purposes of Third Survey To ensure comparability across countries— one report at the end of the process To show whether women physicists’ experiences are different from men’s To provide survey in languages other than English 8

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Languages English French Russian Arabic Chinese Spanish German Japanese 9

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Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 How the survey was distributed Web survey sent to country leaders from conference Survey itself contained instructions to forward to colleagues Sample surveys were drawn by APS and German Physical Society, so their results are representative of their membership. Survey went to entire membership of Japanese Physical Society. Open from ~Oct Oct

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Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Who Responded? 130 countries 14,932 respondents Language of responses – 60% English – 11% German – 11% Spanish – 7% Japanese – 5% Chinese – 3% French – 2% Russian – 1% Arabic 13

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Who Responded? By Region: – 37% Europe – 32% North America – 17% Asia – 7% South America – 3% Africa – 2% Middle East – 2% Australia 14

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Who Responded? 75% from Very Highly Developed Countries (21% Female) 25% from Less Developed Countries (27% Female) Employed in all types of jobs 15

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Very Highly Developed Nations United Nations, 2010 Norway Australia New Zealand United States Ireland Liechtenstein Netherlands Canada Sweden Germany Japan Korea (Republic of) Switzerland France Israel Finland Iceland Belgium Denmark Spain Hong Kong, China (SAR) Greece Italy Luxembourg Austria United Kingdom Singapore Czech Republic Slovenia Andorra Slovakia United Arab Emirates Malta Estonia Cyprus Hungary Brunei Darussalam Qatar Bahrain Portugal Poland Barbados 16

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 EDUCATION 17

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 When did you first think of choosing physics as your career? 18

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 RESOURCES AND OPPORTUNITIES Models tested 19

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Percentage of respondents with access to key resources Less DevelopedVery Highly Developed WomenMenWomenMen Funding Office space Lab space Equipment Travel money Clerical support Employees or students

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 % of R’s w/ career-advancing opportunities % Yes Less Developed Very Highly Developed WomenMenWomenMen Given a talk at a conference as an invited speaker Attended a conference abroad Conducted research abroad Acted as a boss or manager Served as editor of a journal Served on committees for grant agencies Served on important committees at your institute or company Served on an organizing committee for a conference in your field Advised undergraduate students Advised graduate students Served on thesis or dissertation committees (not as an advisor)

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Opportunities and resources Employment sector Economic development Sex Age

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 In the models tested Sex had a statistically significant effect on all resources But not on all opportunities 23

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 % of R’s w/ career-advancing opportunities % Yes Less Developed Very Highly Developed WomenMenWomenMen Given a talk at a conference as an invited speaker Attended a conference abroad Conducted research abroad Acted as a boss or manager Served as editor of a journal Served on committees for grant agencies Served on important committees at your institute or company Served on an organizing committee for a conference in your field Advised undergraduate students Advised graduate students Served on thesis or dissertation committees (not as an advisor)

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Opportunities and resources Employment sector Economic development Sex Age

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Relationship between career progress and opportunities 26

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Relationship between career progress and resources 27

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Opportunities and resources Employment sector Economic development Sex Age Sex*Children

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Compared to colleagues, how quickly have you progressed in your career? 29

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 WORK AND FAMILY 30

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 How did your work or career change because you are a parent? WomenMen I chose a less demanding or more flexible work schedule3920 I changed my employer or field of employment74 I spent significantly less time at work3518 I was more productive and efficient at work2915 My career or rate of promotion slowed significantly349 I became a stay at home parent61 My work or career did not change significantly

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Did your employer assign less challenging work to you when you became a parent? 32

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Has your career changed your personal life, such as decisions about marriage or children? 33

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 How much school did your partner or spouse complete? 34

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 If your partner is employed, does he or she earn: 35

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Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 THE BAD NEWS FIRST 37

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Percentage of respondents who have felt discouraged about physics 38

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Percent who felt discouraged because of interaction with colleagues 39

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Percent who felt discouraged about workplace environment 40

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Percent who felt discouraged about funding and personal life 41

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Would you choose physics again? 89% said yes 42

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Recommendations Education: use research-based strategies to encourage girls to stay in physics Opportunities and resources: – Decision-makers should work to distribute opportunities and resources fairly – Professional societies should work to increase awareness of how opportunities and resources are unequally distributed – Programs to remedy women’s situations should be based on documented differences Work and family: personal and cultural 43

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 Want to learn more? Visit for past reports or to sign up for updates about the Global Survey of Physicistshttp:// Our article available in Feb issue of Physics Today 44

Statistical Research Center 3 May 2012 For more information Rachel Ivie Associate Director Statistical Research Center Thanks to our colleagues Roman Czujko, Raymond Chu, & Susan White