URI welcomes chapter of Association for Women in Science, addresses gender discrimination in the field
Mary McGunigal
Issue date: 11/10/09 Section: Campus
11/10/09 - Last night, Dr. Joanne Kamens, the founder of the Boston chapter and chair of the national chapter of the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) discussed gender biases and strategies for success at the kickoff meeting of the Rhode Island chapter of AWIS. The event, held in the University of Rhode Island's Memorial Union, aimed to address these issues.
"There are all these inherent biases that lead to women getting less grant money, getting fewer tenure positions, not even getting on tenure track," Kamens said.
The chapter was created this past summer by URI Assistant Professor of Chemistry Radha Narayanan. Narayanan said "it's a national advocacy organization" and membership is open to all undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff. Narayanan got the idea from her own membership in the Georgia Tech chapter during her graduate school years.
The meeting opened with a welcoming statement from URI Professor Winnie Brownell, Dean of Arts and Sciences. Following Brownell's opening remarks, Kamens gave a lecture, titled "What can AWIS do for you and what you do for AWIS?"
Kamens presented a study that has proven there are many gender biases in recommendation letters written by both sexes. Letters about female students often say that the applicant "trains, teaches or applies herself well," while male applicants' letters are associated with phrases like "good research, good ability." Kamens said this discrepancy implies males are inherently better-quality students, while females may have to work to achieve a similar status.
She said surveys have shown that successful female scientists who are satisfied with their profession have several things in common: They choose their marital partners carefully, opt for flexible jobs and balance work with their personal lives. Kamens said these women also spend money on such things as childcare and household help to make their life more manageable. This is true of Kamens herself, who said, "I haven't used a vacuum in twelve years."
"There are all these inherent biases that lead to women getting less grant money, getting fewer tenure positions, not even getting on tenure track," Kamens said.
The chapter was created this past summer by URI Assistant Professor of Chemistry Radha Narayanan. Narayanan said "it's a national advocacy organization" and membership is open to all undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff. Narayanan got the idea from her own membership in the Georgia Tech chapter during her graduate school years.
The meeting opened with a welcoming statement from URI Professor Winnie Brownell, Dean of Arts and Sciences. Following Brownell's opening remarks, Kamens gave a lecture, titled "What can AWIS do for you and what you do for AWIS?"
Kamens presented a study that has proven there are many gender biases in recommendation letters written by both sexes. Letters about female students often say that the applicant "trains, teaches or applies herself well," while male applicants' letters are associated with phrases like "good research, good ability." Kamens said this discrepancy implies males are inherently better-quality students, while females may have to work to achieve a similar status.
She said surveys have shown that successful female scientists who are satisfied with their profession have several things in common: They choose their marital partners carefully, opt for flexible jobs and balance work with their personal lives. Kamens said these women also spend money on such things as childcare and household help to make their life more manageable. This is true of Kamens herself, who said, "I haven't used a vacuum in twelve years."
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