Anecdotal data support these findings. A number of important women scientists made their career choices quite late certainly well after adolescence. For example, Melissa Franklin, a physicist who was the first woman to become a tenured professor of Physics at Harvard University, dropped out of high school. Instead of blaming women s underrepresentation in science on their multiple roles or inherent incapacity, society must adopt a systemic approach to increasing the number of women in science and improving their prospects once there. Fundamental change is needed in expectations within and beyond the scientific community so that women can make realistic decisions to enter and stay in science.
Many problems stem from the seeming incongruity between scientist and woman.
Women of color must battle stereotypes which are, if anything, even more destructive. When I received the invitation to testify, I sent a notice to our network of 76 chapters and asked what was the most compelling issue for women in science today. I received numerous responses, many from the Congressional districts represented by members of the Science Committee. Promote effective mentoring systems with adequate reward structures. Women in science are often counseled to lose their femininity and divorce themselves from any appearance of a personal life.