STEM women faculty struggling for recognition and advancement in a “men’s club” culture

Abstract

Despite having made a number of positive steps to advance diversity and provide support for women scientist in the past ten years, STEM research institutions continue to be an environment where women faculty face a kind of “patriarchal DNA” that treats women scientists as subordinate to men. An environment continues to exist where women faculty often feel unwelcome, and unsatisfied with the rate of their accomplishments. At the time of promotion and tenure women can feel a sense of betrayal as their work is evaluated as being “less than” the work of men. To be successful in a derisive environment, many STEM women faculty report that they have developed coping strategies to adapt to a culture that often excludes them from occupying senior leadership roles, diminishes their accomplishments, and makes them feel remorseful for trying to find a work–life balance.