According to the report “Scientists in Figures 2023” published by the Ministry of Science and Innovation together with FECYT and the Women and Science Unit, the percentage of women researchers represents 42% of total research personnel. A figure that, fortunately, is increasing each year.
However, it is also important to note some less positive data, as although the overall number of women in science is rising, there exists what we call the gender scissor effect, a phenomenon that reveals an opportunity gap as research careers progress, with the percentage of women in the highest leadership positions in science decreasing substantially.
According to this same report, in the last period studied, women represent 56.3% of students enrolled in undergraduate studies, 54.8% of master’s enrollments, and 50.3% of doctoral enrollments.
This demonstrates that the presence of women in early stages of research careers represents a majority compared to male presence. However, as research careers progress and we approach positions of greater leadership, female presence decreases significantly.
The CSIC Women and Science Commission confirms this trend, showing that although the percentage of women is 50.4% at the predoctoral stage, only 42.4% go on to work as tenured scientists (compared to 57.6% of men) and only 26.4% access positions as research professors (compared to 73.6% of men). And these are just a few examples.
Organizations, public universities, centers, and foundations dedicated to research face a challenge ahead in contributing to the adoption of new measures in favor of effective equality of participation and opportunities.
The FERO Foundation Committed to Equality
Within the percentage of women researchers we mentioned earlier are 27 women (56% of total grant recipients) whom FERO has awarded with its Grants and who have contributed through their projects to finding new discoveries and achievements in the cure for cancer.
Today, on #InternationalWomensDay, we pay tribute to all those Feritas who have been recognized by FERO. Their advances translate into hope to truly believe that we will soon be able to eradicate this disease. They are shaping a more hopeful future, not only in the cure for cancer, but in the presence of more women and role models in research.
If you would like to learn more about them and their research projects, you can do so by clicking here. Their tireless dedication, ingenuity, effort, and passion have left an indelible mark on the history of cancer research.
To all of them: THANK YOU.
