Good Old MisogynySTEM Fields With More Women Are Often Dismissed as ‘Soft Science,’ Shows Study The “soft science” label devalues fields – describing them as less rigorous, less trustworthy, and less worthy of funding. By Saumya Kalia
How Bias StemsGender Stereotypes Can Drop Girls’ Interest in STEM by 50%, Suggests Research The lack of diversity “may be one of the reasons why many [tech] products have had negative consequences for women,” researchers argue. By Saumya Kalia
Disproportionate Dreams‘Kota Factory’ Fetishizes Hard Work and Merit, Perpetuating a Culture of Casteism The show presumes the world is a level playing field and individual choices are the only determiners for success. By Bijaya Biswal
STEM the GapWomen Feel Like Impostors If ‘Brilliance’ Is a Success Prerequisite: Study Disciplines that have "brilliance" as a prerequisite reinforce the impression that men are the experts, while women's roles just assist them. By Devrupa Rakshit
Critically SpeakingIndia’s STEM Students Do Not Gain Critical Thinking Skills Over Four Academic Years: Study The study analyzed data from four countries renowned for their engineering expertise. By Satviki Sanjay
Numbers Do Not LieIITs Receive More Applications From Marginalized Communities Than Previously Disclosed, New Analysis Finds The acceptance rate, however, still remains skewed in favor of general category students, with SC, ST, and OBC slots often going unfilled. By Aditi Murti
STEM the Gap30% of India’s Science Decision‑Makers Must Be Women, Proposes Centre in Draft Guidelines The proposed policy is part of a broader push to make India's scientific fields more inclusive. By Devrupa Rakshit
Diversity ProblemsSexual Orientation Gap Exists in STEM Fields, Study Finds Researchers say efforts to close the gender gap in STEM help narrow the sexual orientation gap as well. By Rajvi Desai
Women in STEMTell Me More: Talking STEM Education and Bias With the Co‑Founders of The Life of Science "...The dominant narrative is something like 'Who will marry you if you do a Ph.D?' in our society." By Aditi Murti
Growing InequalitiesAmid Covid19, Scientists With Children Are Working 17% Fewer Hours Than Those Without Kids: Study This could have long-term effects on scientists' careers and widen the existing gender inequalities in scientific research. By Anubhuti Matta
Vicious CycleFemale Students More Likely to Pursue Economics, STEM If They Have Female Role Models: Study Limited gender representation in academia can engender a cycle of limiting women's participation in economics or STEM. By Anubhuti Matta
The Doctor Will Not See You NowResearch: Sexism Has Always Colored Health Care — to the Point of Keeping Women Unhealthy Men's domination of everything from research to treatment has limited our knowledge of women's bodies. By Gabrielle Jackson
Miles To GoWomen Are Sole Founders of Less than 6% of All Indian Start‑ups: RBI Cultural bias against women business leaders impairs their ability to seek funding. By Pallavi Prasad
First ImpressionsWomen Scientists 12 Times Less Likely to Describe Their Findings as Unique or Excellent The way women describe their papers affects their editorial review -- they end up spending three to six months longer in assessment. By Anubhuti Matta
The Root Of The GapWomen College Students Feel Highest‑Paying Fields Aren’t Realistic for Them to Pursue: Study Women students may opt for a less-high paying major because they feel unwelcome in the highest-paying fields. By Liesl Goecker
Math BustingGirls’ and Boys’ Brains Function Similarly While Doing Maths, Confirms Study We can finally put to rest the absurd notion that boys are better at maths. By Anubhuti Matta
Inside CloutFemale Health Experts Lack the Twitter Influence of Their Male Peers, Study Finds The conclusion is reflective of a larger pattern in research, academia and policy that routinely sees men's voices elevated over women's, online and off. By Liesl Goecker
Nobel Not NobleIs the Nobel Prize on Its Way to Being Outdated? In 118 years, only 5% of Nobel awardees have been women and only 19% of awardees have hailed from outside the West. By The Swaddle Team