Although there has been progress in increasing the opportunities for women in science and engineering, there remains much room for improvement in physics and other areas.
Few women complete the initial levels of training and education in physics.
When percentages of females are below the critical-mass level, women's retention rate and overall performance declines. This article focuses on retaining women already in the physics pipeline. Evidence from other countries' proportions of women in physics suggests that local societal factors play a role in women's persistence in physics. This could also be explained by the widely varying levels of women students and faculty in general at American universities. The proportions of women does not correlate with the department's strength and resources.