By Juliette Straet, student at the Université de Montréal
Despite political and legal progress aimed at guaranteeing equal access to university degrees, gender parity in engineering is still far from being achieved. In 2021, women represented only 20% of engineering enrolments in Quebec. This gender disparity in engineering is particularly striking given that women now constitute a majority in all academia.
The field of academic research in engineering is no exception to this trend. Recent studies have shown that women are not only less numerous than men, but also receive less funding, publish less, and are cited less often than their male colleagues. This situation raises questions about the obstacles women face in this field.
Gender Stereotypes
Some factors, such as a lack of representation, affect the engineering field in general and impact women’s career choices from a young age. The absence of female role models, as well as social norms and gender stereotypes, can hinder the attraction and advancement of women in scientific careers.
Some misconceptions persist: for example, the idea that women possess fewer attributes that lead to success in scientific and engineering careers. Although this belief in women’s lack of innate engineering ability has been refuted by numerous studies, this social bias continues to exert an influence.
Obstacles
There is a culture of heightened competitiveness in the world of academic research. This is characterized by high, quantified, and standardized performance requirements. Researchers must publish extensively, frequently, and in recognized scientific journals. These requirements demand a significant career commitment. Researchers must be prepared to work long hours but also to embrace international mobility, which fosters networking and enhances the visibility of their research. International mobility is essential for securing funding, a crucial condition for a research career.
This culture complicates the work-life balance. Women generally assume more family responsibilities than men. “In a context where women also want to have children and because they still bear the brunt of childcare work, the need to choose between career and motherhood persists,” explains Sophie Brière, a full professor at Université Laval and a specialist in women’s advancement in traditionally male-dominated trades and professions. Furthermore, the processes for promotion are demanding. They limit opportunities for career breaks, such as maternity leave.
Women are also disadvantaged by the criteria for research excellence. Indeed, these criteria for recognition in academia are still largely quantitative. Researchers are evaluated on their number of publications, citations, and the impact factors of the journals in which they publish. This “standardized excellence” is problematic.
On the one hand, it does not allow for a direct measurement of research quality. On the other hand, it constitutes an obstacle to women’s advancement in research careers, particularly because they publish less than men. Several factors explain this difference in productivity, such as motherhood, professorial rank, and greater multidisciplinarity.
Health Crisis
The coronavirus health crisis exacerbated the challenges faced by women researchers in engineering. A recent study showed a significant decrease in research published by women during this period. This decrease was particularly noticeable among younger researchers, thus jeopardizing the next generation of women in research. The increased family responsibilities brought on by lockdowns contributed to this decline in productivity. This situation highlights the shortcomings of the academic system and underscores the urgent need to adapt academic policies to better reflect the realities experienced by women researchers.
Solutions
Faced with these challenges, solutions are gradually emerging. Work-life balance measures and equity, diversity, and inclusion programs are being implemented in universities. Discussions have also begun on developing a more inclusive, equitable, and transparent research evaluation process. In 2016, Quebec joined UNESCO’s SAGA project, which aims to reduce inequalities between women and men in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. However, these measures are partial and do not solve all the problems. A cultural shift is essential to eliminate the barriers faced by women in engineering research.
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