Sunday 11th February was United Nation’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science. This is an important reminder of the biases – explicit and unconscious – that women face when they enter the world of research and academia. Biases are also faced by people from other historically disadvantaged groups.
According to the UN, non-STEM disciplines are not ‘science’.
Despite its laudable intentions, the vocabulary used to describe this day is surprising: the UN site clarifies that ‘science’ refers to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)1 : social sciences, political science, psychology, anthropology, etc.. are not ‘science’.
Looked at another way, this means that academic and research areas in which men dominate – i.e. ‘STEM’ subjects – are science.
By deduction, academic activities and research areas in which women are better represented – that is to say the social sciences, political science, psychology, anthropology etc. – are not ‘science’.
Does it matter that only STEM is considered ‘science’?
Women face gender bias across academia : the social sciences, political science, psychology, anthropology, etc… also suffer from systemic gender bias. However, women are better represented numerically in these areas.
It is strange that the UN (and many other institutions – such as universities themselves) reserves the word ‘science’ for disciplines absolutely dominated by men.
The under-valuation of ‘feminized’ science
Could it be that, behind the UN’s well-intentioned attempt to draw attention to gender-bias in research and academia, there lurks a paradox?
The paradox is this: as disciplines slowly and imperfectly become more inclusive of women (for the time being this applies to the social sciences, political science, psychology, anthropology, etc.), as they inch towards feminization, they cease to be considered science.
And, if a discipline ceases to be considered ‘science’ when women become involved, will women ever be recognized as scientists?
STEM is Science, but Science is not STEM
Of course, STEM disciplines are science, and it is vitally important that acceptance, recognition and promotion within them be as unbiased as possible: the International Day for Women and Girls in Science draws attention to critical issues.
However, the social sciences, political science, psychology, anthropology, etc., are also science. These sciences are trivialised – i.e. not even recognized as science – possibly because they are too feminized.
This is nothing new, another example of under-valued female-dominated professions and activities . It is unfortunate, though, that a well-intentioned UN, as well as many universities, unwittingly contribute to this devaluation.
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1 The opening two paragraphs of the site read as follows: “Tackling some of the greatest challenges of the Agenda for Sustainable Development – from improving health to combating climate change – will rely on harnessing all talent. That means getting more women working in these fields. Diversity in research expands the pool of talented researchers, bringing in fresh perspectives, talent and creativity. This Day is a reminder that women and girls play a critical role in science and technology communities and that their participation should be strengthened.
Although Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields are widely regarded as critical to national economies, so far most countries, no matter their level of development, have not achieved gender equality in STEM.“
Richard Shearmur 