Study Reveals Alarming Gender Disparity in Indian STEM Faculty

A recent study by BiasWatchIndia, an initiative focused on addressing gender bias in science, has unveiled a significant gender disparity in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) faculty in India. The study, published on the preprint repository bioRxiv, found that less than one in five STEM faculty members in India are women.

The research indicates that women make up only 16.6 percent of STEM faculty members in India, with fields like engineering and chemistry exhibiting the worst gender disparities. Moreover, even prestigious STEM institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) struggle with gender disparity, with women comprising just 10 percent of their faculty.

One of the most concerning findings is the attrition of women faculty members at various career stages. The study revealed that 46.3 percent of women faculty members in surveyed institutions were early-career, 27.5 percent mid-career, and 26.2 percent senior-career. This suggests a “leaky pipeline” where women leave STEM academia at different points in their careers.

BiasWatchIndia also examined gender representation in Indian STEM conferences and meetings. The data revealed that in the first phase, 39 percent of conferences had zero women speakers, while 54 percent had fewer women speakers than the base rate for their fields. Mathematics conferences, in particular, had a significant problem, with 80 percent featuring no women speakers. Although there was a slight improvement in the second phase, the underrepresentation of women persisted.

To address these gender disparities, the study’s authors recommend several measures, including the removal of age limits for early-career grants and positions, establishing mentorship and sponsorship programs, and providing regular training and workshops to challenge ingrained sexism in academic settings. They also propose that at least 30 percent of panel members for decisions like recruitment and promotions should be women scientists to promote diversity in decision-making processes. Additionally, academic institutions are encouraged to provide on-campus childcare facilities to support new parents, thereby alleviating one of the major stressors for women scientists.

This study highlights the pressing need for action to rectify gender disparities in Indian STEM academia and conferences. The findings underscore the urgency of implementing these recommendations to promote gender equality in the field.

Re-reported from the article originally published in The Print