Interaction between physics and a woman Helle Kaasik

Interaction between physics and a woman Helle Kaasik 1), Imbi Tehver 1), Anu Ülejõe 2) 1)Institute of Physics, University of Tartu, Estonia 2)Tartu City Government, Dept. of Education, Estonia e-mail: helle@eeter. fi. tartu. ee

So few women in physics? It is a fact that most physicists are men. For example, see the situation at the University of Tartu: the figures prove it, both at study and at work [1]: Physics students: 1 - bachelors 2 - M. Sc. 3 - Ph. D. Why is this a problem? Physics employees: 1 - fellows, assistants 2 - professors 2

Women for physics for women? a) Does physics need more women? n n u Are there possible discoveries in physics that only women can make? We cannot prove it, but we consider this unlikely. Although it has been found that the gendercorrelated traits of a personality influence the results of a scientific work, we accept that physics can somehow be done even without women. n b) Do women need more physics? u Let us assume that science is for people, not people for science. It is not physics that has the problem, but women, who want to deal with physics. Some of them find it hard, even too hard for them - and partly just because they are women. I will suffer without women, but I’ll survive. I will survive without physics, but I’ll suffer. . . 3

Are we researchers or a research • To solve with all the power of science such problems as: object? • why is it hard for a woman to be a physicist; • why do most women avoid physics; • how to increase the participation of women in physics, etc. - we should apply the methods appropriate for the field of study. • These problems are far more similar to the problems of sociology (e. g: why teens get pregnant, how to make youth to learn more languages, etc. ) than to the problems of physics. • If we want to solve such problems, a close collaboration with sociologists is needed - unless female physicists wanted to start the re-inventing of sociology. 4

Interaction between physics and a There woman are a number of reasons why women come (or do not However, we can at least try to study it in our way: n n n come) into physics or why they leave (or do not leave) it. These reasons can be presented as forces of attraction or repulsion between physics and a woman. As assumed in our active standpoint that physics is for women, we consider the forces influencing the woman at present. The direction and magnitude of these forces depend on both her personality and on the environment. $$ 5

Fundamental interactions: I Natural forces These forces arise from natural differences between men and women. Hopefully, the times when political correctness did not allow us to recognize the existence of such differences, has remained into past. Examples: u variance of most indicators, including IQ (and, as result, also the occurrence of extra high IQ favorable for physics) is greater among male population than female [5]; u having children is physically more demanding to mothers than to fathers, the resulting break in the career is hard to overcome in physics; u women have less reproductive time - not easily compatible with the long studies needed to become a physicist. Principally these forces can be studied with a quantitative methods of social science, but u - it is hard to do it without receiving accusations in discrimination; u - there is not much we can change, although we can take these forces into account in organization of society. II Social forces Under this we join everything that depends on human attitudes, relationships, traditions and opinions. Examples: u tradition to give girls less (or lower-quality) education in science, even if schools and programs for girls and boys are the same; correctness valued in women and creativity in men; u career decisions are made at a young age, that is especially sensitive to the opinions of significant others maybe women are more sensitive to the public opinion and more concerned about conformity; u a result of the fact that women avoid physics: good choice of high-quality male partners and few women competitors in physics departments; u fear to be different from other women; u stereotypes about female physicists/scientists (yet to be found out, if and where they really exist); u tender care for the few women in physics: e. g. always sweets saved for them. These forces can to some extent be influenced with the social manipulation, the attitude forming or the public awareness campaign, etc. A thorough sociological study is needed to do it effectively. 6

Fundamental interactions: (continued) III Financial forces Into this kind of forces we join everything that depends mainly (or can be strongly influenced by) money. Examples: u lower pay and more childcare/household obligations for women in many countries; u study loans and scholarships selection criteria are not gender-blind; u full-time job, full-time studies and family together; u high financial security and good salary in many countries in senior physicist positions. Principally these forces can be influenced with a well-directed funding. IV Inner forces We could also call them spiritual forces, if this word had not so different meanings for different people. Examples: u joy and excitation of discoveries; u freedom to follow person’s own interests in physics; u curiosity about explaining the functioning of the world; u good feeling from an intensive use of the brain; u possibility of getting 100% involved in theoretical problems, which helps forgetting about hard everyday life; etc, etc. . . To communicate openly and broadly about these feelings would make women to understand that such feelings are normal and legitimate and motivate girls who have not tried it before. It is not hard to explain, why the repulsive forces of this kind remain to be found from the questioning of nonphysicists. . . 7

Situation in Estonia • History: There is an ancient tradition in Estonia that women are independent - not subordinate to men, but equal, although different partners. Nevertheless, a clear distinction between the tasks of men and women has existed all the time and has been existing to some extent until now. • Women in society: Nowadays women in Estonia are well educated and mostly employed. Women and men get the same basic education in Estonia, and there are more female students at universities than the male ones. Only 6% of working-age women choose to stay home. Among professionals, the average salary of women is 70% of men’s salary. The main responsibility for home and children belongs traditionally to women: women spend 1. 8 times more time for household care and there are 20 times more single mothers than single fathers [2]. 1 Teacher training 2 Humanities 3 Social sciences 4 Commerce and law 5 Natural sciences, mathematics and computer sciences 6 Medicine and public health 7 Engineering 8 Agriculture, forestry and home economics 9 Transport and communication 10 Service trades 11 Mass communication and documentation 12 Other 13 Total 8

More about Estonia: • Women in science: Women actively participate in science in Estonia, there are many women scientists. However, two clear tendencies appear: • the percent of women diminishes with academic level; • the bigger is the part of teaching (compared to research) in a position, the higher is the percentage of women [3]. • Women in physics: However, there is generally only a small percent of women in physics, starting from the first years of university studies until the highest levels of the academic career and the percent is decreasing with the level. Physics Bachelor’s (first-level) degrees awarded in Estonia in 1999 -2001: as can be seen in the figure, percent of women is small and even slowly diminishes. Only 15% of Ph. D. -s in physics were awarded to women at the University of Tartu in 1992 -2000 [3]. 9

Physics-the last science for a woman Physics has the smallest percentage of women compared to other sciences [4]. The further up, the more in minority Gender distribution of the academic staff at the Faculty of Physics and Chemistry, University of Tartu, 2000. The top academic council in Estonia, Estonian Academy of Sciences, has one woman member out of 57 [3]. So in spite of good status of women in society, Estonia belongs to the group of countries with the least women in physics: Women Enrolling In Physics (Harding, J. , 1998) [6]: England, Swiss, Germany, Austria, USA, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, India 2 -19% France, Denmark, Finland, Poland, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Russia, Israel 20 -35% Ireland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Hungary, Philippine 40 -57% 10

Causes of the situation The natural and inner forces tend to be here of the same background level as in other countries. è As in recent years there has been a variety of (large amplitude and frequency) economic and political changes in Estonia, relative stability of the fact “few women in physics” suggests that the main reasons for it are not in financial forces. è So it is probably social forces - attitudes, traditions and opinions - that makes the resultant of all forces to keep most women in Estonia far from coming into/staying in physics. è What can we do? Y A full sociological study is needed to find out the causes of the situation - the social forces - and their mechanisms, mutual interference etc. Y Separate data for physics are needed, as official gender statistics or administrative structures often connect physics with mathematics, chemistry or other natural sciences and it hides the large gender differences in physics. Y In-depth interviews with women physicists, also with women ex-physicists and potential physicists are needed to form hypotheses - to be confirmed by statistical study of representative samples of population. Y Measures can be taken to improve the situation for women in physics, when laws of forces between women and physics become established. 11

References and data sources [1] www. ut. ee: lists of students and employees of University of Tartu. [2] Ann Ojala, Women and men in Estonia 2001. Statistical office of Estonia, 2001. [3] Ene Ergma, Women in the Science of Estonia. In: Research and development 2000. Statistical office of Estonia, pp. 34 -41, 2000 (in Estonian). [4] www. etf. ee: list of grants 2002. [5] www. megafoundation. org/Ultra. HIQ/HIQNews/Gender_Differences. html; http: //members 1. chello. nl/p. cooijmans/FAQ. htm [6] http: //www. wgsact. net/e-library/e-lib 0004. html 12