A recent study, as published in the preprint repository bioRxiv, has unveiled a concerning lack of women representation in Indian STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) faculty positions within universities and institutions, with only about 16% of faculty members being women. The study, titled "Women’s representation in Indian academia and conferences," was conducted by scientists Shruti Muralidhar and Vaishnavi Ananthanarayanan, who also co-founded BiasWatchIndia (BWI), an online platform dedicated to documenting gender inequities in Indian science conferences and events.
The study's findings highlight not only the underrepresentation of women in STEM but also the lack of recognition, mentorship, and opportunities for women researchers. According to Muralidhar, the data is crucial to challenge the prevalent excuse that there are not enough women in the field when advocating for gender equity in academia.
As per Muralidhar, In India subject and careers pertaining biology or life sciences are often considered as ‘soft sciences’ which loosely translate into being more approachable for women, while the branch of engineering, math and physics are termed into the ‘hard science’ bracket. The study also reveals that stereotypes and biases within STEM disciplines persist, with ‘soft sciences’ have the highest proportion of women faculty members (22.5%), while ‘hard sciences’ such as engineering lag behind with just 8.3% representation.
Even in India's top STEM institutions, including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), women faculty members make up a mere 10%.
Muralidhar also highlighted a prominent issue that he terms as a "leaky pipeline," where the number of women diminishes at each career progression stage. Almost half of the surveyed women faculty members were in early-career roles, and only 26% held senior positions, illustrating this systemic problem.
The study also addresses the discrimination women face in academia, including microaggressions, harassment, and the unequal impact of parenthood on career growth. In many cases, women struggle to find the support and conducive work environments needed to thrive in their academic careers.
BiasWatchIndia, since its launch, has been instrumental in calling out the absence of women participants in Indian STEM conferences and talks, leading to a reduction in the number of events without any women speakers from 46% in the first year to 25% in the subsequent two years. However, the proportion of women speakers remains considerably low.
Despite the progress made, many women scientists in India remain cautious about speaking out against systemic inequities, as it can affect their grants, collaborations, and career advancement.
The study also offers policy recommendations to address gender inequalities in STEM, including removing age-based barriers for early-career grants and positions, promoting stable mentorship programs, and establishing daycare centers in institutions to support new mothers. Furthermore, they emphasize the importance of including experienced women scientists in decision-making processes at the academy, department, and government levels and advocating for at least 30% representation of women on all panels.
In conclusion, the lack of women in Indian STEM is not just a scientific issue but a social one that requires comprehensive attention and action.