Nearly Half of US Female Scientists Leave Full-Time Science After First Child

Post by mav3rick » Wed, Feb 20, 2019, 3:33 AM UTC

jriot wrote: post #121

mav3rick wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Why do we care that not everyone is offered the same opportunities? Life isn't fair." Does that mean we live with the status quo ? Whether it's institutional racism, sexism or plain fascism, do we not fight against inequalities in society to make it better ? You're lucky to have 24x7 electricity and internet connection, you wouldn't be so gung ho about "Life isn't fair" if you couldn't sustain yourself. "Until I see…

Life will never be fair. That is the status quo of life since the beginning of time, it will never change. Regardless of what you try to do, it will never be fair. I didn't see women fighting to get into those physically demanding jobs, or demand quotas or any of the other nonsense we see today. It's fashionable to be tech because it is easy work that provides a comfortable lifestyle. Thinking otherwise is foolish. I…

Post by bobwaycott » Wed, Feb 20, 2019, 3:53 AM UTC

qaq wrote: post #139

bobwaycott wrote: post #128

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I do--speaking as a single-dad who spent a few years working as a consultant and would never work more than 6 months out of the year (I always took time off during school breaks, summers, etc.). When I've applied for jobs over the years, I've never once been asked to explain those gaps. Of course, they were rarely longer than 6 months ... but there were quite a few of them. I've never even had the impression an emplo…

6 month gap when working as consultant is hardly comparable to say 6 year gap.

Post by User23 » Wed, Feb 20, 2019, 4:26 AM UTC

elliekelly wrote: post #138

User23 wrote: post #58

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I wonder how much of this is people leaving science to pursue far more lucrative opportunities like running mathematically intricate financial scams for Wall Street banks in order to assure a good financial future for their children. I know STEM PhDs who have left their field to get a bog standard devops job on account of it pays twice as well.

Yes, all of the women scientists are rushing to Wall Street where the old boys club is welcoming them with open arms. In my time on Wall Street I've had many colleagues with STEM PhDs. I can't think of a single one who is female.

Post by mikekchar » Wed, Feb 20, 2019, 4:50 AM UTC

fulafel wrote: post #146

mikekchar wrote: post #31

Completely anecdotal evidence, but every female coworker I've ever worked with has left work to raise their child after the first baby. Every single one of them said that they were definitely coming back before they went on maternity leave (and I believe that they believed it). The main issue in every case was that as the new mothers got to the end of their maternity leave, they started to think about day care. In th…

In many parts of the world, daycare is heavily subsidized and it's a social norm to have children in daycare, it leads to high labor participation of women.

Post by topmonk » Wed, Feb 20, 2019, 5:15 AM UTC

gboudrias wrote: post #123

topmonk wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In India there is a more equal split between women and men in the STEM fields, yet women are much less liberated then in Western countries. The reason being is that women there are forced to enter whatever career gives them the biggest paycheck, which happens to be STEM. So, I'd say your assumption is incorrect.

I'm not saying it benefits the public necessarily, I'm saying it benefits those who opt for diversity. I don't expect STEM to have as big an impact on women's liberation as, say, business or politics. I don't think two cultures can be compared on this basis, my assumption is that, within one culture, diversified organizations will win out on average.