Women in Physics (WIP) a cost-effective program designed for the immediate recruitment & retention of undergraduate female physics majors… …Planting the.
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Women in Physics (WIP) a cost-effective program designed for the
immediate recruitment & retention of undergraduate female physics majors…
…Planting the seed for feminist physics culture.
“Part of the difficulty women experience in defining their performance as adequate to the task is their isolation.”
quotes-AU
“For the first time in their lives, white women suddenly experience what it is like to be a minority, negatively viewed by the majority.”
“Too often undergraduate teaching staff conflate the male role with the role of the scientist, to the predictable detriment of their female students.
from Athena Unbound - Etzkowitz, Kemelgor & Uzzi
2003 Snapshot(% Women)
facts-BS
While more women than men obtain S&E bachelors, physics presents considerable hurdles to female
undergrads.from 2007 NSF Women, Minorities &
Persons with Disabilities in Science & Engineering
Physics Bachelors21%
2003 Snapshot(% Women)
facts-grad
Women ‘leak’ from grad school with M.S.
Even fewer find post-docs after Ph.D. from 2007 NSF Women, Minorities &
Persons with Disabilities in Science & Engineering
Initial
Grad22%
Masters22%
Ph.D.18%
Post-Doc13%
“I feel that (like many women) I have low self-confidence and often have felt that I am not good enough to be working in physics. This is still a problem even today, though when I think about it calmly I think I am as good as many of my colleagues, and better than some of them.” ~India
quotes-NSF
“The main reason [I’ve felt discouraged] is so often you are just made to feel like you shouldn’t be there. You have to work twice as hard, do twice as much just to be considered half as qualified.” ~Australia
“I always have to justify why I as a woman have chosen physics. Men never get that question.” ~Sweden
from 2007 NSF Women, Minorities & Persons with Disabilities in Science &
Engineering
Women in physics say…
An intimidating institution lays out a rigorous program to a random collection of talented young adults who are discovering their identities.
Minorities in Physics…
ingénues
Social networks form in order to meet high expectations, but minority members are often marginalized. Majority members garner social capital more easily.
Minorities in Physics…
networks
Feelings of insecurity and isolation prompt minority members to switch to other fields that provide suitable role models & inclusion in social networks. attrition
Minorities in Physics…
Physics Bio & Psych
Non S&E
All but the most outstanding minority members are ‘distilled’ from physics while weaker majority members cash in on social capital to continue towards degree. grades
Physics Grade Card
A
B
C
DF physics as
meritocracy
Minorities in Physics…
Policy should be driven by data: Recruitment, retention, grades, REU/internships, grad school acceptances, etc.
UR data
UR Data
200# UR PHYSICS MAJORS
female
male
enrolling
freshman
sophomore
junior
seniorgraduating
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Female physics majors must be formally gathered to discuss career hurdles they will face and taught strategies for success.
quotes-NSF
Female physics majors must be brought together often and periodically with older female scientists so that they may together create and evolve a culture of female success, a sense of belonging, and a pride of membership.
Female students must receive positive feedback from one another and from a mentor, a paid professional whose job it is to manage and foster a female undergraduate physics major student body.
Tenets of a solution:
solutions
Solutions
TOP DOWN positive
• adds legitimacy• tackles many issues• Continuity year-to-year
negative• needs much oversight• requires $$
GRASS ROOTS positive
• flexible• works quickly• cheap & efficient
negative• depends strongly on volunteer leadership• lacks resources
?
plan-outline
A Simple Plan: Women In Physics Target female introductory physics students.
1. Create new ‘grad student line’ to administer program.
2. Offer weekly tutoring/study-skills-lab for intro physics female students to encourage success & facilitate social networking.
3. Provide website for showcasing activities, warehousing resources and providing testimonials.
4. Organize off-site dinners each semester with invited speakers (role models) and older female majors presenting research talks.
plan-benefits
A Simple Plan: Women In Physics Program Benefits:
Not a club - does not depend on volunteer labor or unnecessary time demands on female majors.
Not a large program - does not require major oversight or financial investments of university.
Raises grad student awareness - creates female grad student leaders who may later improve grad program.
Documents successes on internet - provides concrete example to other universities of simple solutions.
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