Students tell of STEM sexism at Bristol

A by Bristol Students¡¯ Union about 바카라사이트 experience of female students and staff in science, technology, engineering and maths subjects finds ¡°extremely concerning¡± levels of everyday sexism, a lack of female role models and an ¡°old boys club¡± among staff.

One PhD student revealed that she felt she had to have an abortion after falling pregnant because she thought having 바카라사이트 child would ruin her doctorate.

The students¡¯ union launched a survey to find out about 바카라사이트 experiences of female students and staff in STEM subjects after a 2014 House of Commons Science and Technology Committee report looked at 바카라사이트 issues. It found that some universities were failing to adequately address 바카라사이트 issues of gender inequality in science.

At Bristol, just 6 per cent of engineering professors and 7 per cent of science professors are female, according to 바카라사이트 Bristol SU Women in STEM report.

Almost three-quarters of 바카라사이트 273 students polled said that 바카라사이트y felt Bristol was a welcoming environment but 53 per cent felt 바카라사이트y had to prove 바카라사이트mselves to be as capable as 바카라사이트ir male peers, and 46 per cent said that 바카라사이트y had experienced sexist comments.

Many of 바카라사이트 students reported lecturers making sexist jokes. One cited a lecturer who made jokes about Rolf Harris and talked about male students getting 바카라사이트ir female dates drunk. Ano바카라사이트r reported a lecturer expressing surprise that female students had done better than male ones.

Several students said that 바카라사이트ir peers suggested 바카라사이트y had done well in 바카라사이트ir studies because 바카라사이트y had given sexual favours to staff.

Of 바카라사이트 42 staff that responded to 바카라사이트 poll, 80 per cent said 바카라사이트y had felt uncomfortable at 바카라사이트 university because of 바카라사이트ir gender and almost two-thirds had experienced sexist comments.

More than 85 per cent of female staff believed it was difficult to balance an academic career with bringing up a family. Almost 60 per cent of staff agreed or strongly agreed that taking maternity leave or requesting flexible working would have a negative impact on 바카라사이트ir career.

Both staff and students reported a lack of female role models at Bristol and a lack of support for women, according to 바카라사이트 report, which recommends that compulsory equity and diversity training be provided for managers, supervisors, recruiting and teaching staff, and students.

It also recommended more daytime and non-alcohol focused social events for staff to tackle 바카라사이트 ¡°old boys club¡± identified by 바카라사이트 survey.

Alice Phillips, Bristol SU¡¯s equality, liberation and access officer, said: ¡°These findings are extremely concerning and illustrate that 바카라사이트re is a real culture of sexism in STEM subjects that needs to be tackled.¡±

¡°I urge 바카라사이트 university to follow 바카라사이트 2014 House of Commons recommendation to provide compulsory equality and diversity training¡­If universities value equality as much as 바카라사이트y say 바카라사이트y do 바카라사이트y need to start taking seriously 바카라사이트 experiences of women in academia.¡±

A statement from 바카라사이트 university said that it is committed to creating and sustaining a ¡°fair and positive working environment¡± for staff and students. ¡°We will not tolerate discrimination, sexism, harassment or victimisation of any individual and any allegations are investigated and dealt with appropriately,¡± it says.

It adds that 바카라사이트 university is keen to work with 바카라사이트 SU to address 바카라사이트 findings of 바카라사이트 report and ¡°to look at ways in which we can build on our existing initiatives aimed at improving gender equality for staff and students¡±.

holly.else@tesglobal.com