The Challenges of Female Scientists in India: A Closer Look at Uma’s Story
Uma (name changed) had an enviable academic record that many scientists aspire to emulate. Having earned her PhD in molecular biology, she pursued a career as an assistant professor at a newly established university in northeastern India after her marriage. Dedicated to her work, she set up her laboratory from the ground up. The birth of her son was a joyous milestone, with supportive colleagues and neighbors stepping in to help care for him. However, her journey took a disheartening turn when she discovered that her name was absent from the list of candidates for a permanent position, despite her significant contributions to the institution.
Although she was never given a specific explanation, Uma speculates that it might be related to her being the first woman at the institute to take maternity leave. “While the administration didn’t directly state this as the reason, I heard it through informal channels,” she explained. Following her husband, a civil service officer, on various postings, Uma found herself in Ladakh, a region with limited opportunities in her field, and later in Lucknow, where she worked as a research assistant for two years. Eventually, she moved to Goa, where she sought a teaching position in a high school but was deemed “over-qualified.” The onset of the pandemic further affected her professional aspirations, leading her to focus on her son’s upbringing and education. Yet, Uma remains optimistic, believing that by the time her son grows up, opportunities in scientific research may be available to her again.
A Mentor’s Support
Uma has found a source of encouragement in Madhura Kulkarni, a molecular geneticist and senior scientist who established the Tumor Microenvironment Lab at the Centre for Translational Cancer Research in Pune. Recognizing the unique challenges women scientists often face, Madhura has inspired Uma to consider re-entering research. With a postdoctoral degree from Harvard Medical School and professional experience in Singapore, Madhura returned to India with a Department of Biotechnology “re-entry” fellowship, focusing on breast cancer research. However, Madhura shared that her path wasn’t without its hurdles, stating, “I had to convince my mother at each step.” After initially being discouraged from pursuing computer science, she faced societal pressure to leave her career after becoming a mother. Madhura noted that such pressures could have accelerated her career progression were it not for her resilience in pushing through adversity.
The Compromises Women Scientists Make
She recounted the stories of other women scientists who have made significant sacrifices in their professional lives. For instance, a PhD graduate from Mumbai, known for her groundbreaking research on genotypes with HIV patients, has shifted her career to become a nutritionist, while a Canada-educated plant scientist now works in horticulture. Madhura acknowledged the adaptability of these women, stating, “At least they’ve found ways to utilize their skills and intelligence.” Meanwhile, she aspires to attain a leadership role “where my voice will carry weight, and I can impact and empower a broader community.”
The Gender Gap in STEM
Earlier this year, the University Grants Commission chairman announced that India achieved a milestone with a 40% enrollment rate of women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields, noting a 107% increase in female PhD graduates over the past decade. However, this achievement masks the troubling reality that numerous qualified women scientists remain underrepresented in the scientific workforce. A recent study published in Nature revealed that women constitute only 16.7% of STEM faculty in India, with representation dropping to a mere 10% in the nation’s premier institutes, including the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) and the Tata Institute for Fundamental Research.
The authors of the study uncovered a disparity in representation across various scientific fields: biology has a higher percentage of female faculty at 22.5%, while engineering sees a strikingly low 8.3%. Shruti Muralidhar and Vaishnavi Ananthanarayanan examined 98 universities and institutes, noting a decline in female representation as seniority increases: 46.3% at the early career stage, 27.5% during mid-career, and only 26.2% achieving senior status. They also highlighted that 26% of scientific conferences held between August 2021 and March 2023 featured no female speakers—an astonishing 83% of chemistry conferences lacked female representation as well.
Barriers to Career Progression
The researchers noted that many women scientists encounter numerous formidable barriers during their career progression, compelling them to leave academia in search of alternate paths. A significant attrition point occurs when transitioning from postdoctoral roles to faculty positions, coinciding with heightened societal pressures to start families.
Karishma Kaushik, a physician and clinical microbiologist, echoed these observations, explaining how marriage and motherhood frequently coincide with women’s pursuit of substantial career opportunities. “Maternity leave often entails time away from work and the challenge of re-entering the workforce while managing family responsibilities,” she added. Women may also be perceived unfavorably when applying for jobs, as they might be seen as candidates likely to take extended maternity or childcare leaves.
The Need for Role Models
Karishma emphasized the “chicken and egg problem”: the absence of role models for aspiring female scientists. “Fewer women reaching higher positions means fewer who can mentor and lead others, creating a cycle that hinders women’s advancement,” she observed.
Worryingly, the Nature paper warns that most women scientists tend to shy away from being vocal about systemic inequities. In the context of Indian STEM academia, demonstrating such an outspoken attitude often results in repercussions such as reduced access to grants, collaborations, and opportunities for promotions. Furthermore, many senior women faculty are leaving academia, citing toxic work environments.
The Call for Institutional Reform
Madhura’s advocacy for institutional reform is echoed by Nandita Jayaraj, co-author of Lab Hopping: A Journey to Find India’s Women in Science. She documents the experiences of numerous women navigating the male-dominated scientific landscape, revealing a pervasive culture of discrimination. One mid-career scientist shared her reluctance to speak out due to the fear of jeopardizing her career when confronted with overt gender bias. “Gender bias is blatant in India, often perpetuated by those in senior positions,” she stated. “We are expected to be gentle enough to fit the mold of a ‘good woman’ while also being assertive enough to claim our rightful space.”
While many women continue their fight for recognition in the scientific arena, Jayaraj insists on the urgent need for systemic change within institutions. Persistent challenges such as everyday sexism and ineffective harassment prevention protocols continue to serve as deterrents, discouraging women from climbing the professional ladder.
Importantly, Jayaraj points out that initiatives intended to support women scientists must extend beyond those who are already socially privileged to encompass those from various marginalized backgrounds. “A panel consisting of half upper-caste men and upper-caste women is just as ineffective as an all-male panel,” she elaborated. “Addressing intersectional aspects of gender issues in science must begin now.”
Data-Driven Solutions Are Essential
Since 2010, noted physicist Rohini Godbole, who championed women in science, has emphasized the critical need for nuanced policy frameworks to retain female researchers in science. Surveys indicated that “family responsibilities” significantly hinder their ability to remain in academia, compounded by organizational factors like rigid working hours, discriminatory practices, lack of supportive colleagues and mentors, and harassment.
The report concluded that effective strategies to support women in science must challenge the prevailing notion of a “one size fits all” approach. The initial step toward retaining women in research involves gathering data on Indian women pursuing PhDs in science fields. Establishing a comprehensive database, as highlighted by the Indian Academy of Sciences, is imperative.
As 2024 approaches, the absence of such foundational data persists—a crucial move to empower scientists like Uma, who eagerly awaits the opportunity to return to her research endeavors.
