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A Chemistry World article summarizes a study by Cornell University psychologists Wendy Williams and Stephen Ceci finding that faculty members asked to evaluate hypothetical male and female applicants for assistant professorships in biology, engineering, economics, and psychology gave preference to female applicants. Quoting the study:
The underrepresentation of women in academic science is typically attributed, both in scientific literature and in the media, to sexist hiring. Here we report five hiring experiments in which faculty evaluated hypothetical female and male applicants, using systematically varied profiles disguising identical scholarship, for assistant professorships in biology, engineering, economics, and psychology. Contrary to prevailing assumptions, men and women faculty members from all four fields preferred female applicants 2:1 over identically qualified males with matching lifestyles (single, married, divorced), with the exception of male economists, who showed no gender preference. Comparing different lifestyles revealed that women preferred divorced mothers to married fathers and that men preferred mothers who took parental leaves to mothers who did not. Our findings, supported by real-world academic hiring data, suggest advantages for women launching academic science careers.
The article concludes:
To be hired, women must first apply and the authors question whether ‘omniprescent and discouraging’ messages about sexism in academic appointments makes them reluctant to do so.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Rivenaleem on Tuesday April 21 2015, @09:21AM
Why is there a constant concern about hiring inequality in STEM position but never a study performed for why there's great disparity in the ditch digging, road resurfacing and brick laying industries? Surely there's something illegal going on in the above listed areas when there's such a clear favouritism towards hiring males for these positions?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday April 21 2015, @11:34AM
It just shows what is going on that this post is modded flamebait.
A certain group of people feel that they are being attacked and think it is fair play to attack back using the same illusionary persecution techniques they perceive to be everywhere against them.