When careers run up against stereotypes
The fact is: 40 per cent of the school students who specialise in mathematics and natural sciences for their higher education qualifying examination are girls. Surprisingly, many of them do not find their way to ETH Zurich. An ETH exhibition attempts to figure out why.
In theory, people should be able to access mathematics, computerscience, natural sciences and technology (MINT) regardlessof whether they are men or women. However, the statistics on gender ratios tell a different story, including at ETH Zurich. It starts off well at grammar schools where girls account for at least 40 per cent of the students specialising in mathematics and natural sciences for their higher education qualifying examination.
A leak in talent inflow
In the equivalent subjects at ETH Zurich, however, women account for only about 30 per cent. The numbers fall the further up the academic career ladder: only 12.6 per cent of ETH professorships are occupied by women. Even in the subjects like biology where more than 50 per cent of new students are women, ETH does not have a high proportion of female professors. This phenomenon is called the “leaky pipeline” and there are many reasons for it. For example, many women leave the university after their doctorate if they assume that they will not be able to reconcile family life and research. Stubborn clichés also play a role.
The influence of stereotypes
“Gender-related stereotypes are one of the reasons why the proportion of women at ETH Zurich is so low,” says Renate Schubert, Professor for Economics and Head of the Equal! Office for Equal Opportunities at ETH. Equal! has been working for 20 years to make study, work and family more compatible and to ensure an academic career path. One familiar stereotype that can affect the choice of course and research career, for example, is: “Women are not interested in technology.” In its anniversary year, Equal! aims to counter these stereotypes with its exhibition “Check your Stereotypes” – and hopes to open equal doors.
“Check your Stereotypes”
An exhibition by Equal! in the Main Hall of the ETH Main Building from 28 October to 8 November 2013. A panel debate with drinks on the subject of “Gender Stereotypes in Globalising Universities” takes place on Monday, 28 October 2013, in the Main Building, Audimax at 17:30.
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