Prejudices about women scientists die hard – TF1

Woman and senior scientist incompatible? It is in any case believe that a large part of Europeans. According to a poll produced by the French institute Opinion Way for the L’Oréal Foundation, released Wednesday, two-thirds of respondents say women do not have the capacity to “become top scientists.
Paradoxically, women are almost as many (66%) than men (67%) think that they lack at least one quality to qualify succeed Science . The survey was conducted in five European countries: Germany, United Kingdom, Spain, France, Italy
What’s missing women therefore be to achieve high-level scientific self-confidence.? 25% of respondents, the professional network (21%), the spirit of competition (19%), ambition (15%), interest in science (12%). But 11% also believe that they lack perseverance, 9% of rational mind, practicality 8%, 7% of rigor, 7% of scientific capacity … “Prejudice against women are tenacious,” says Hugues Cazenave, President OpinionWay. “These figures are alarming,” said David Macdonald, Director of Philanthropy “For Women in Science” at the L’Oréal Foundation. “We must not deprive us of the great skills of women,” said he.
Make strength of evidence

These need to “really get resistance” facing the disparaging comments of some of their male colleagues, shows Elizabeth Blackburn, who received the Nobel Prize for medicine in 2009. This American biologist from Australia still remembers More than thirty years later, the remark “arrogant” in 1984 made about him by a senior scientist.
She had just made a communication on the progress of its work that would lead it to identify the telomerase enzyme that protects chromosomes from aging. “Oh, but it is now completely go astray,” she had heard in her back by European science. “I think he would not have spoken the same way if I were a man,” she continues.
In June, the British Timothy Hunt, Medicine Nobel Prize in 2001, sparked outrage on social networks and in the scientific community saying about women: “three things happen when they are in the labs: you fall in love with them, they fall in love with you, and when you criticize them, they cry. ” Under fire from critics, Timothy Hunt has apologized and resigned from his teaching post honorary researcher at University College London (UCL).

In the survey OpinionWay, Europeans deem desirable, however, that the situation of women in science evolves. “They have the will to move the lines,” said Cazenave.
Women underrepresented in research
The figure of only 3% of Nobel prize awarded to women from their creation in 1901 is considered too low by 66% of Europeans. Women continue to be also under-represented in scientific research.
They constitute 29% of the researchers, according to a survey in 2013 by the Boston Consulting Group in several countries (Germany, Spain, France, USA, Japan, China). And only 11% of high science academic functions are occupied by women in Europe. “Often women do not dare to stand for coveted academic positions.” We must encourage them to do it, “says Ms. Blackburn. For girls who want to do science,” it must be said that they are as good as men, they should not be discouraged and must find people to support them, “she says.

Opinion Way survey was conducted from June 10 to 15 from a representative sample of 5032 adults.