We do it our way – A personal and UK perspective on gender equality and physiology

1. IUPS July 2009 Women in Physiology We do it our way – A personal and UK perspective on gender equality and physiology Susan Wray Physiology Liverpool, UK

2. On being a female physiologist in the UK • 1: How good/bad is it? • 2: What are the issues? • 3: What can we do?

3. 1: How good/ bad is it? Universities/institutes • Female physiologists/scientist get appointed and promoted • Female physiologists are Heads of departments and faculties • Female physiologists/scientists are Vice Chancellors/executives • All universities/institutes have equal opportunity commitment

4. 1: How good/ bad is it? Professional bodies Female physiologists on: • grant committees • editorial Boards • society committees • learned bodies

5. So, no problem? 1: How good/ bad is it?

6. 1: How good/ bad is it? Universities/institutes Female physiologists/scientist get appointed and promoted >50% women graduates, < 10% become professors professors and mothers.......Rare beasts Female physiologists are Heads of departments and faculties All are first female head and majority of departments have never had a female head. Female physiologists/scientists are Vice Chancellors/executive Female VCs Very Rare beasts! All universities/institutes have equal opportunity commitment UK universities have been shown to be amongst worst institutions for gender equality. Equal opportunity not working

7. 1: How good/ bad is it? Professional bodies Female physiologists on BUT: • grant committees – few and no section heads, • Wellcome Trust physiol committee: 1/15 • editorial Boards - few : J.Physiol & Expt Physiol • never a female chair: JP senior Eds: 0/14 • society committees – few especially on executives • Physiological Society currently 1/6 • learned bodies - very few; • Female Royal Society Fellows 5%

8. 1: How good/ bad is it? SAD GRUMPY

9. Dame Nancy Rothwell, FRS In UK probably is best “power” role model for physiologists Deputy President of University of Manchester, Chairs a Wellcome Trust committee, Council member of BBSRC, Trustee of Cancer Research UK, Non-executive director of AstraZeneca Is consulted by government, media , heads bodies etc Her view: there are no barriers, glass ceilings, just get on with it, put yourself forward and don’t forget to network. “But, the one thing worse than a lack of women in senior positions or as fellows of the Royal Society would be to judge them less exactingly than men: "For God's sake, you've got to stop short of positive discrimination." So why aren't there more Nancies?

10. On being a female physiologist in the UK • How good/bad is it? • 2. What are the issues? • What can we do?

11. What are the issues? • Women knowing what they want • Science/workplace attitudes • Families • Stereotypes, assumptionsand prejudice • and.........

12. What are the issues? • Women knowing what they want Life and choices more complex for females lack of role models

13. What are the issues? • Science/workplace attitudes male and female ways of doing things current set up evolved to suit males and male ways e.g. questions after talks: for info or ego? not a real scientist unless you life devoted to it female way = weak . success = male way power plays and alpha maleness; not as valued by women?

14. What are the issues? Women in Science, Engineering and Technology: Three Decades of UK Initiatives Alison Phipps (Trentham Books: 2008) “The success of initiatives has been limited by focusing on helping women to survive and thrive in existing masculine environments, rather than challenging the underlying work culture and perception of the ideal scientist as a masculine figure: rational, competitive, independent and technically skilled”.

15. Biggest issue in UK How to have it all Need more role models Interacts with women’s choices, workplace set up and what is “success”? What are the issues? • Families

16. What are the issues? • Stereotypes, assumptionsand prejudice Males are safe choice and plenty to pick from Women good at pastoral roles, teaching, details.... Female wouldn’t want to do it – she’s too busy already, parents/children to look after no experience...... not put herself forward Struggle in this role/discipline, get pregnant, emotional, too risky, bitchy, can’t take a joke, never in the bar (threatens me, may be better than me, didn’t want to sleep with me, what’s her problem!)

17. “We all know talented women who have dropped out of science from a feeling of "not being good enough" to do research or to lead a research group. put this inner voice to rest . Such feelings arise from one's experience of society, culture and capitalism, not one's abilities as a scientist”. Alison Phipps (Trentham Books: 2008 Give up now?! Scientist Smiley What are the issues? • and......... Society, biology, confidence, rewards, and ..........

18. Smiley in training • 1: How good/bad is it? • 2: What are the issues? • 3: What can we do?

19. What can we do? A lot • Evaluate and celebrate success – role out role models • Mentor schemes • Do it your way – don’t give up • Be a sister not a b****

20. What can we do? • Evaluate and celebrate success – role out role models What is success – you decide Let people knowand spread the word e.g. Biophysical Society mag profiles Royal Society booklet about successful women who are also mothers, Step up the mark Volunteer, nominate, initiate, subvert

21. “Mothers in Science – 64 ways to have it all” free pdf from RS. Ottoline Leyser: Rosalind Franklin Award

22. What can we do? • Evaluate and celebrate success – role out role models What is success – you decide Let people knowand spread the word e.g. Biophysical Society mag profiles Royal Society booklet about successful women who are also mothers, Step up the mark Volunteer, nominate, initiate, subvert

23. L’OREAL - UNESCO awards honouring women in science

24. What can we do? • Mentor schemes Join in, set up in work place and professional bodies network Tap in to existing organizations and expertise Give money for named lecture, fellowship, bursary, that favours females

25. e.g. European association for women in Science - Witec

26. WISE women into science, engineering and construction

27. What can we do? • Mentor schemes Join in, set up in work place and professional bodies network Tap in to existing organizations and expertise Give money for named lecture, fellowship, bursary, that favours females

28. What can we do? • Do it your way – don’t give up One size doesn’t fit all Feel the fear – and do it anyway. (every now and then!) Illegitimi non carborundum Sisters are doing it for themselves

29. What can we do? • Be a sister not a bitch Don’t perpetuate stereotypes, assumptions and prejudices Don’t pull the ladder up Don’t get jealous – it’s easier now, let them learn from their mistakes That could /should have been me, so not helping her

30. Thanks to all the good guys, female and male, helping UK and world physiology by being fair AND finally

31. Professor Bridget Lumb, head of Physiology Bristol and... Chair of Organising Committee for IUPS 2013 in Birmingham, UK See you there!