Women and physics This book begins with an examination of the numbers of women in physics in English speaking countries moving on to examine factors that affect girls and their decision to continue in science right through to education and on into the problems that women in physics careers face. Looking at all of these topics with one eye on the progress that the field has made in the past few years and another on those things that we have yet to address the book surveys the most current research as it tries to identify strategies and topics that have significant impact on issues that women have in the field Preface 1. Introduction 2. How many women are in physics 2.1. Historical women in physics 2.2. High school physics upper secondary physics 2.3. Current trends in womens participation in physics 2.4. College tertiary education 2.5. Postgraduate education 2.6. Conclusion 3. What helps what hurts : family and education 3.1. Extra curricular and informal science activities 3.2. Early science education 3.3. High school physics education 3.4. Undergraduate physics education 3.5. Postgraduate physics education 5. The view through rose colored glasses 6. The glass is half empty 6.1. The nature of science 6.2. Covert discrimination 7. Closing thoughts 4. What helps what hurts : family and career 4.1. Choosing a job in physics 4.2. Leadership 4.3. Family and work the balancing act 4.4. Resources