ET CONTRIBUTORSBy Shubha Tole
Women who have achieved some measure of success in STEM (science / technology / engineering / mathematics) careers are often asked why there aren't more women in these fields. We get interviewed, held up as role models, invited to give talks and write blogs. I now have a one-sentence distillate of what I think is common to successful women: We followed our hearts and didn't listen to objections. In other words, "Nevertheless, we persisted."
To be successful in the sciences one has to achieve the confidence to think independently, to follow one's instincts, trust one's training and take a calculated leap into the unknown. However, elements of Indian tradition work against encouraging these very qualities in young girls, and imbue two divergent expectations into their minds. By the time a girl is 12-years old, she has received mixed messages along the lines of "you should study and do well in your career, BUT you should also remember that you have to ensure your family's well-being and harmony." The message is that your career can never come at the cost of your family - whereas young boys never get this mixed message.
Traditional and cultural parameters play into this very effectively. A look at matrimonial columns reveals how our culture ensures a young woman is "less" than her husband-to-be: She cannot be taller, more qualified, or earn more. All of this is to ensure that she "looks up" to her husband, so that there is minimal conflict and she will be the one to compromise. This is how our society starts off its young women in this an important relationship - not as equal partners in a shared journey, but as a lesser individual who will compromise in the interests of family harmony. It appears as if our society doesn't want independent minded women - but such traits are exactly what are required for successful STEM careers.
The net result of this social "programming" is that young girls compromise their dreams, ambitions and aspirations. Deep in a 15-year old girl's mind is the insidious thought that her life-choices will be influenced by unknown factors, so better not to want something strongly. Her ambitions are interwoven with concerns about whether she will be free to pursue her plans after marriage, whether these would be affected if her husband's job requires the family to relocate; whether she will have to choose between being a "good mother" and a "working mother" - a loaded lose-lose definition. Added to this is the social perception that science is an unglamorous career and women scientists are people who don't have social lives, or chose science because they couldn't get married (to be single is considered a shortcoming- only for women!).
An unfortunate reality that makes things worse is that except for biology, STEM fields are male-dominated, which can make the workspace daunting or uncomfortable for women. Compared with women colleagues in Physics and Math, it seems women in Biology can just be themselves and "breathe" more freely. When I was a young junior faculty member at TIFR, I found myself interrupted, and my ideas not accepted by male colleagues from other disciplines. If asked, they would say, "but I didn't do it because she is a woman" - however, they would have given a male colleague a more complete hearing in the first place. There is a very narrow range of personalities and traits a women may display to be accepted in male-dominated workplaces.
Despite being among the more successful scientists of my generation in my institute, I felt underappreciated from early on in my career. I wasn't considered for positions of leadership in the Institute because I didn't fit the parameters for being "easy to get along with." What was seen as "pushy and aggressive" in me was perceived as being a "go-getter and assertive leader" in less accomplished male colleagues. Yet, I persisted, anyway. Kept my focus on my science, continued to do well in my career, gaining national and international recognition for my work. I continued to voice my thoughts - not because I expected they'd be heard, but for my own sense of self-esteem - I didn't want to think of myself as having been "silenced by the system." Now, as a senior scientist, people know I don't give up easily, and some have come to respect my opinions, clarity of analysis, and genuine desire to contribute to the system. Positions of leadership have eventually come my way.
Some people acknowledge me as a progressive, open-minded leader who gets things done. I continue to speak out because I believe I speak on behalf of the silent majority of women who struggle to succeed in pervasively sexist workspaces. I believe the struggle itself is my contribution- and that each woman contributes to easing things for those that follow.
I remember an incident from 35 years ago, at my school's farewell for Class X students. As we were saying goodbye, a boy from my class said, appreciatively, that he had some advice for me: "Shubha you are so intelligent, so capable. You should find a boy who has high ambitions and a good business, join him and support him in his career." Though I was only 15 years old then, I still remember how his words made me feel: "You think an intelligent, capable woman should have THIS as her goal in life? I will walk my own path, thank you very much!"
I would like young girls who are in early stages of choosing their field or career path to consider this: you have ONE life. Find a way to express your voice. Daily, look into a mirror and say "I am my own person. I want THIS out of life". You will develop an inner voice that will help counter the many objections you will hear, you will develop the thick skin required to push through the daily barriers you will face. Tell the mirror, "Nevertheless, I will persist."
The writer is the laureate for Infosys Prize 2014, in the category of Life Sciences. This is part two of a series of blogs by the Infosys Prize laureates on the subject of Gender Bias in Research.
Acknowledgements: Zeba Khatri and Bhavna Mehra.
Women who have achieved some measure of success in STEM (science / technology / engineering / mathematics) careers are often asked why there aren't more women in these fields. We get interviewed, held up as role models, invited to give talks and write blogs. I now have a one-sentence distillate of what I think is common to successful women: We followed our hearts and didn't listen to objections. In other words, "Nevertheless, we persisted."
To be successful in the sciences one has to achieve the confidence to think independently, to follow one's instincts, trust one's training and take a calculated leap into the unknown. However, elements of Indian tradition work against encouraging these very qualities in young girls, and imbue two divergent expectations into their minds. By the time a girl is 12-years old, she has received mixed messages along the lines of "you should study and do well in your career, BUT you should also remember that you have to ensure your family's well-being and harmony." The message is that your career can never come at the cost of your family - whereas young boys never get this mixed message.
Traditional and cultural parameters play into this very effectively. A look at matrimonial columns reveals how our culture ensures a young woman is "less" than her husband-to-be: She cannot be taller, more qualified, or earn more. All of this is to ensure that she "looks up" to her husband, so that there is minimal conflict and she will be the one to compromise. This is how our society starts off its young women in this an important relationship - not as equal partners in a shared journey, but as a lesser individual who will compromise in the interests of family harmony. It appears as if our society doesn't want independent minded women - but such traits are exactly what are required for successful STEM careers.
The net result of this social "programming" is that young girls compromise their dreams, ambitions and aspirations. Deep in a 15-year old girl's mind is the insidious thought that her life-choices will be influenced by unknown factors, so better not to want something strongly. Her ambitions are interwoven with concerns about whether she will be free to pursue her plans after marriage, whether these would be affected if her husband's job requires the family to relocate; whether she will have to choose between being a "good mother" and a "working mother" - a loaded lose-lose definition. Added to this is the social perception that science is an unglamorous career and women scientists are people who don't have social lives, or chose science because they couldn't get married (to be single is considered a shortcoming- only for women!).
An unfortunate reality that makes things worse is that except for biology, STEM fields are male-dominated, which can make the workspace daunting or uncomfortable for women. Compared with women colleagues in Physics and Math, it seems women in Biology can just be themselves and "breathe" more freely. When I was a young junior faculty member at TIFR, I found myself interrupted, and my ideas not accepted by male colleagues from other disciplines. If asked, they would say, "but I didn't do it because she is a woman" - however, they would have given a male colleague a more complete hearing in the first place. There is a very narrow range of personalities and traits a women may display to be accepted in male-dominated workplaces.
Despite being among the more successful scientists of my generation in my institute, I felt underappreciated from early on in my career. I wasn't considered for positions of leadership in the Institute because I didn't fit the parameters for being "easy to get along with." What was seen as "pushy and aggressive" in me was perceived as being a "go-getter and assertive leader" in less accomplished male colleagues. Yet, I persisted, anyway. Kept my focus on my science, continued to do well in my career, gaining national and international recognition for my work. I continued to voice my thoughts - not because I expected they'd be heard, but for my own sense of self-esteem - I didn't want to think of myself as having been "silenced by the system." Now, as a senior scientist, people know I don't give up easily, and some have come to respect my opinions, clarity of analysis, and genuine desire to contribute to the system. Positions of leadership have eventually come my way.
Some people acknowledge me as a progressive, open-minded leader who gets things done. I continue to speak out because I believe I speak on behalf of the silent majority of women who struggle to succeed in pervasively sexist workspaces. I believe the struggle itself is my contribution- and that each woman contributes to easing things for those that follow.
I remember an incident from 35 years ago, at my school's farewell for Class X students. As we were saying goodbye, a boy from my class said, appreciatively, that he had some advice for me: "Shubha you are so intelligent, so capable. You should find a boy who has high ambitions and a good business, join him and support him in his career." Though I was only 15 years old then, I still remember how his words made me feel: "You think an intelligent, capable woman should have THIS as her goal in life? I will walk my own path, thank you very much!"
I would like young girls who are in early stages of choosing their field or career path to consider this: you have ONE life. Find a way to express your voice. Daily, look into a mirror and say "I am my own person. I want THIS out of life". You will develop an inner voice that will help counter the many objections you will hear, you will develop the thick skin required to push through the daily barriers you will face. Tell the mirror, "Nevertheless, I will persist."
The writer is the laureate for Infosys Prize 2014, in the category of Life Sciences. This is part two of a series of blogs by the Infosys Prize laureates on the subject of Gender Bias in Research.
Acknowledgements: Zeba Khatri and Bhavna Mehra.
( Originally published on Sep 23, 2017 )
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com.)
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