women in sciences

WOMEN IN SCIENCES

In the history of mankind ,women were always underrated and have been denied access to proper education and exposure to the scientific world .They did not get equal opportunities,like men ,to work in the research activities.But the situation is changed now.Many women have proved that they are at par in intelligence wioth men .and they shine in research projects and sometimes outwits them.Opening out with the problems the women in sciences face in their fields of activity and stressing the unexplored talents of women in sciences,the present discussions would definitely help to encourage women professionals to actively involve in research activities by shedding the fear and uncertainty ,which in turn will help us to better our status in society as scientists and thinkers.

As a continuation of the subject studied as women in medical sciences I had sent a questionnaire to a few eminent women scientists and a few of them are given below .
The discussions focus on four vital questions and their answers .

*1.The future of women in sciences.Research challenges and opportunities.
*2.Shortage of qualified female academicians
*3.changing the status of women in sciences.
*4.some of your personal experiences in your field of work.

Participants are Dr Sathiavathy ,the director of ICMR ,Dr Ayisha Guharaj ,the DME,Dr Sara Vargheese ,pathologist and educationist,and Dr (Mrs )M.Lalithambika.The questinnaire was prepared and sent by Dr Suvarna Nalapat.

1.The future of women in sciences –research challenges and opportunities.
Dr Sathiavathy:
During the last two decades the number ,range and scope of women scientists in India have shown a definite upward swing .In most science fields ,women have been exposed to enough opportunities and challenges particularly after reaching a certain level/status in their chosen field,depending on their own drive/ambition and ability to exploit opportunities.
A. In the field of general science particularly related to teaching ,however there still seems to be some kind of discrimination against women (in science as well as other areas)mainly because of the traditional distrust towards women’s ability as well as a lack of selfconfidence among women themselves.I do not believe however that there is overall shortage of qualified academicians.In my personal view ,whenever such a shortage has occurred it is mainly at the higher executive level and not at the lower or middle levels.It is mainly because women in India ,are still saddled with the dual responsibilities of handling efficiently their career as well as homes.An efficient woman executive(scientist or otherwise)is expected to run her home as efficiently ,whereas this is not expected of a man(efficient or otherwise)!!!
Many women therefore curb their ambitions and even sacrifice their careers to allow the husband to reach the top of his career(by not opting for promotions,refusing transfers ,or even resigning the job if circumstances so demand.)

B.Women scientists in general and biomedical scientists in particular have come to occupy important status and also play significant role in the mainstream of S&T activities in the last two decades.At present ,there are quite a few women professors and heads of departments and a few heads of organizations /agencies and even women vice chancellors in India.While individual experiences of women scientists may marginally differ from one situation to another and from one field to another ,in general,however ,women has been recognized as a force to reckon within the scientific field.In the field of medical sciences ,from the outset,among the clinical disciplines ,two areas were traditionally identified as eminently suitable for women viz.,obstretics and gynecology ,and paediatrics(which basically deal with women and children as patients).It is only in the last two decades that women medical scientists have dared to venture into the hitherto maledominated clinical disciplines ,such as general surgery,cardiothoracic surgery ,E.NT,Radiology etc.In the field of basic medical sciences such as physiology ,Anatomy,pharmacology,pathology ,microbiology,biochemistry etc however ,there has been no discrimination between the sexes.There is no forum /body dealing with the problems of women medical scientists in India,although there are a few bodies exclusively for women scientists ,in general.
The future of women scientists in India ,therefore,has to be shaped by the women concerned themselves.
Dr Ayisha Guharaj:The general consensus is that women cannot do much in science and research.Research is the sheet anchor in the scientist’s career.The academic pursuit is maintained only by posing research questions.A woman’s identity as a scientist is the least outspoken in the contemporary society.She is well earmarked for many other jobs,which needs the soft touch and tender care –the nursing,receptionist,confidential assistant and such jobs.Th etraditional role of women is to reproduce and to be the nodal unit of the family .In addition to this,the working women has to concentrate on her official duties also.Neither in the home nor in the office she is free to have a relaxed and academically searching mind to develop herself as a scientist.Added to this is the patriarchal relations of the society which suppress the needs and freedom of women.In the midst of these familial and social life the scientist woman has to develop her career.Thanks God!Still there is a long list before us of those: a few examples are Madam curie,Sheila Sherlock,cicely Williams,Barbare Machuthode etc.Though the list is very long ,on scrutiny we see that a few of them are unmarried or at least have an extraordinarily understanding husband.]Because women in general have more concentrating power and perseverance,women scientists make better achievements than their opposite sex inpar.Because they know the family problems better,their approach to scientific queries is more humane and their social commitment ,deeprooted.This results in covetable academic achievements ,because they are the least politicized ,their research findings are the least biased.Research about women in science should critically analyse the patriarchic dominance of man in society.May be in medicine,psychology,engineering,and agriculture.In all these fields ,patriarchal influence should be questioned.
The scope for further research is unlimited.Special problems faced by women scientists –limitations,familial lives,social lives,negligence and discriminations and the basis of gender ,special advantages in doing scientific work all should be studied in depth.
Dr (Mrs )M.Lalithambika:I feel the future of women in scientific research is definitely bright.The best brains both men and women choose mostly science as their field of interest-medical,engineering or basic sciences like mathematics,physics,chemistry,life sciences etc.But 95% of them ,once a career is chosen,as ateacher or an employee in a factory or an industry loose interest and opportunity for a research career.Only those who are employed in Research organizations pursue research seriously.In many research organizations like Indian Institute of science ,Bangalore,IITs,NCL,Poona,VSSC Trivandrum the percentage of women scientists is steadily increasing.(These are some organizations I am familiar with.).
Dr Sarah Vargheese:Future of women in sciences especially in research is very promising.
1.The policy of government of India is encouraging women in various walks of life is conducive for research.It is very suitable for the Indian women since it could combine their dual responsibilities of home and the job especially if some degree of flexibility is given and if the goal is achieving objectives and not work place or time.However help and support from th eorganisation so that the family unit is not affected should gain priority in such jobs.The long term effect of granting this support wil be beneficial especially with the small family unit.
2.The mental makeup of the Indian woman for hard work ,discipline and dedication certainly suits job related to research
3.The highly qualified women could be encouraged to take up assignments ,and projects in research so that it may not affect the dual responsibility of the home and job.
4.Educated women are increasing in number especially in the metropolitan cities an dtheir talents are not being tapped by the maledominated society.
5.opportunities are many especially when research an ddevelopment in various fields like industries an dother academic activities are manifold and it is for the woman to find out about these areas and accept it as a challenge ,and on the part of government organizations to plan out such activities for women.


2.SHORTAGE OF QUALIFIED FEMALE ACADEMICIANS
Dr Ayisha Guharaj:The general feeling in our society is that certain professions are for women an dcertain are for men.A few examples of those earmarked for women are nurses,air-hostess,teacher,receptionist,stenographer etc.Among these ,the university teachers are the ones to become academicians .Many of the female academicians have proved themselves to be the best academicians.The academicians like U.R.Ananthamoorthy are quiting from the administrative positions whereas the females retain such posts showing better patience an d tolerance.
Even in the same profession –as for example the medical profession,there is a feeling that Forensic medicine ,surgery and orthopaedics are specialities where females are poor performers .But nowadays females have proved to be excellent in these professions also.Many have written standard textbooks also.Some institutions are in shortage of sincere and honest academicians and the departmental work becomes a sheer mess.The weakness of men academicians serves the department sto the bottom,.Some of them are alcoholics.Some are “too social”that they are never seen in the department.Some are too busy politicians that they seldom get time to do their professional job.At least few of them are too much politicized to become equally controversial also.These weaknesses which create a lot of chaos in the department seldom affects the female academicians and the only way to save our academic departments is to bring them to the top,.
Dr Lalithambika:Since our society gives a lot of importance for marriage ,the girl’s first preference is to get married.For a proper alliance a permanent job (which should be transferable in certain cases and nontransferable in others)is preferred.Once married,they are confronted with lot of family problems.They are not able to continue the pursuit for excellance.this is true for ladies in every field,and particularly in the academic activity,where pursuit for excellance is essential for a successful career.
Dr Sarah Joseph:There is certainly shortage of qualified women academicians because:
1.The whole system is maledominated.
2.The social academic credibility for women is in a way full of pitfalls.
3.The family responsibility and the drop in joint family has lead to the small family units so that the dual responsibility of the women lead to problems so that many women are not able to realize and achieve their goals with their talents.

3.CHANGING STATUS OF WOMEN IN SCIENCES.
Dr Lalithambika:Women’s status in science is improving.In fact it is worth mentioning that in the Kerala science congress held in February 1990,at Trivandrum ,more than 50% of the technical presentations were by ladies.
In the In dian science congress held held recently among the four honoured scientists ,one was a woman.
Dr Sarah Vargheese:Yes.There is certainly a change in the status of women in sciences but still the maledominated society do not give adequate social standing for women scientists.Moreover the women too,shy away from such academic fields due to family responsibility and poor support from their spouses and from the society.The social set up in India is still way behind and only very few women utilize their education and talents.
Dr Ayisha Guharaj:The status of women in society was of a provider ,protector and caretaker in the family.In the primitive tribal society women were center of all worship.In the matrilineal society the women was the center of property inheritance.The feudalist class considered women as a material wealth-the beautiful ladies as chauffeurs of the upper class lords and the working class women as the oppressed group to work and procreate a neverending capital.The industrialist society also tries to exploit women by considering her as biologically and socially submissive.Even in the present day transitional society ,stories of torturing womanhood is a very common reality around us.The woman’s oppression is justified by the supposed biological inferiority.
Th emajor civilizations have fallen down and the universe is under the influence of western culture and modern science and technology .The global threat of nuclear catastrophe exists.The problem of overpopulation,the gap between the haves and have-nots ,the healthy and the unhealthy,and the exploiters and the exploited,are becoming more and more wide.Overpopulation,industrial technology,and overexploitation of nature have contributed in various ways to degeneration.Thank God,a woman only wrote the book “the silent spring”which discusses a part of this reality.
The feudalist way of oppressing the women is still seen in certain parts of the society.It is said that what is called Masculine and Feminine psychology is not so much rooted in biological difference between man and woman but are essentially consequences of the social order prevailing under patriarchy.
Thanks to the feminists,though not to the extant of extreme fetichism ,it has certainly explored a few social evils to the light.The story of Rip Van Vincle was brought to light by the feminist group only.Other factors contributing to th eupliftment of status of women are universal education ,trade union movements and reservations for women in the public sector.

4.SOME OF YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES IN YOUR FIELD OF WORK
Dr sathiavathy: As stated earlier,the personal experiences of women scientists depend upon the specific environments and situations/circumstances in which a particular woman scientist worked during the formative years of her career.I did most of my postgraduate and postdoctoral work at the Banarus Hindu University,Varanasi,(which is rather a backward place in common with other parts of eastern U.P)where women do face considerable difficulties due to male chauvanism.I did encounter harassment firstly because ,at that time,I was not married(which was considered strange by UP.Wallas)and secondly my earlier research on Gum guggul was considered to constitute a “breakthrough”in scientific evaluation of Ayurvedic concepts /remedies and therefore aroused considerable jealousy ,rivalry etc.It was mainly a sense of commitment ,strengthened by a determination to succeed against all odds that made me go through this difficult period.This experience ,however,endowed me with adequate toughness and prepared me for the future challenges in my scientific career and to know what a successful career woman need to expect throughout her career.
After getting into the mainstream of biomedical research as a career ,in India,while I myself have not faced any specific instance of discrimination as awoman (particularly in promotional avenues ,opportunities etc)there have been occasions when I am left with a distant feeling that a woman scientist is not always given due credit for her own merits/abilities,but is subjected to a sort of supercilious reaction from male colleagues that“ because one happens to be a woman ,success has perhaps been easier “.Thus even when a woman scientist has reached the top by her individual merit,there are instances where her colleagues (male as well as females)pass it off as due to the use of feminine “guiles”,”influence””luck”or other factors not related to one’s individual merit.I am afraid however that partly this is due to the behaviour and attitude of some of the woman scientists themselves.

To one like me ,who was born in a family of several children (mainly male siblings)sex differentiation was never encountered as a problem at home or even in education to the undergraduate level.It is only after reaching a particular level/status that I became conscious of being a ‘WOMAN SCIENTIST”AND HENCE TREATED DIFFERENTLY.
Strangely ,however,in India,men do not normally express surprise when they meet successful women scientists occupying a top position.In my dealings with male foreign scientists ,however,I was always been amazed (and often annoyed)by their expression of surprise ,disbelief and even shock when they realize that they did not expect to meet a woman in that position!On such occasions ,when I asked why the gentleman was so surprised,the incredible answer was that,”but in all your letters,you sounded so efficient ,confident and professional.like a man!”
More often than not,however ,in the course of my routine work,I am not conscious of the fact that I am a woman scientist.It is only instances of male chauvanism and female rivalry that remind me of the fact that I am a woman scientist!
(I,Dr Suvarna Nalapat share exactly the same views as Dr Sathiavathy in these matters.)
Dr Sarah Vargheese:On an overall basis ,I would consider my personal experiences as fairly fruitful.In my early academic life,there was certainly preferential treatment towards men so that there was delay in my academic career.However ,gradually though there was considerable family responsibilities and male dominance in the activities ,I was able to partially express myb talents in my professional life.In the administrative set up though there were some problems initially ,gradually there was considerable cooperation and I would say confidently that there was absolutely no discrimination towards me.In fact I would put it as “better co-operation due to psychological reasons from men towards women”.
This does not mean that there have not been problems especially in the family front which occasionally has given me a sense of guilt because I am working.However,this might have occurred even if I would not have been working.These learning experiences of a working woman with dual responsibilities certainly calls for greater talents ,abilities,and hard work and with support from the family ,political setup and the organizations more women could contribute to the progress of science.
Dr Lalithambika:I started my research career at IIT Kanpur,accepted a job as scientist in National chemical laboratory,Pune (one of the laboratories under the council of scientific and industrial research).Nearly 10 years back,I took a transfer to regional research laboratory .Trivandrum .In all these places ,I got all opportunities a man could get.Never di dI experience any discrimination.As per the charter of the laboratory presently I am working in the utilization of the local resources (clay and other ceramic raw materials).Since my group can transfer our funding to industries the industries appreciate our work .This gives job satisfaction.
Dr Ayisha Guharaj:The most memorable occasion in my community health practice was an event of health education to the train travelers.I repeatedly contacted them ,and advised them to stop tobacco chewing and smoking .Just because of my counseling they stopped smoking and changed their lifestyle.Some of them are still in contact with me .I think changing the lifestyle by at least one person by the influence of me is a great achievement in my life.
Similarly I had the experience of sharing the suffering of the people ,when a gastroenteritis epidemic exploded in the area.I was alone and the only medical person available there.Within a short time ,I trained the local persons and even without any facilities I could organize to start intravenous fluid for the needy. Thus I could prevent mortality and further morbidity.The exposure to such extreme poor in their time of suffering was an exciting experience in my life.I still remember how the anxious and deadly faces became normal and lively after rehydration.
The next noteworthy experience in my life was that of winning the confidence and respect of my colleagues in Medical college ,calicut.When I took charge as principal,the institution was full of different groups of people (students as well as staff)with opposing ideas and diverging relations.I spite of this vivid circumstances ,I could develop confidence in my associates and delegate much of my responsibilities to them so that I could lead the institution to much work and prosperity.The most referable instance of this was a survey done by the medical students.The medical students and even a part of the regular staff were motivated to do the survey.They were popular in the campus as the most mischievous group.They have successfully done the survey.This work gave insight to the fact that even the most mischievous student if engaged in some good work can be changed to a good student.