SASH Fact File

Professor Penny Brothers, who began lab work in 1979, found the labs plastered with posters of naked women, who “weren’t even afforded the dignity of a face”. According to Brothers, this was not uncommon, nor easily challenged at the time. Brothers expressed immense disappointment that 40 years on, we are still having discussions surrounding inequality and sexism in STEM.

The panellists now find themselves pioneering cultural change in their departments. Some described promoting women-only employment positions, and they are all hopeful in creating institutional change for a new generation of STEM students.

Other panellists described a positive experience in STEM without sexism, shining a light on improvements made in STEM’s workplace culture.

Currently, 80 percent of women who study STEM do not continue into STEM roles due to discrimination, inflexibility, lack of female role models, and a male dominated culture etc. The goal of positive discrimination, as described by Dr Colebatch, was to change the image of what success looks like in STEM. However, this may result in the burden of cultural and institutional change being placed on high achieving women, who are expected to work while improving workplace culture. This links to the sentiment expressed by a number of panellists that gender inequality in STEM is not only a women’s issue. Moreover, no male staff members nor students attended the event.

The panellists acknowledged that while positive discrimination is helpful, it is only a short-term solution. Associate Professor Joan Licata provided an alternate perspective, that although she endorsed and implemented women’s only positions, cultural change was the biggest aspect to address. This sentiment is echoed in Australian Government strategies to improve gender inequality, which includes reducing bullying and harassment in the workplace and improving hiring diversity, flexibility, pay gaps, and parental support.

Indeed, it was raised that the issue of women in STEM was only one aspect of how STEM can improve its diversity and inclusivity.

The timing of the event falls within a tumultuous global environment for womens’ issues. Social and community norms are changing, and it remains to be seen what a generation who have been inspired by the likes of Grace Tame, Brittany Higgins, and Jacinda Ardern will bring to the table.