Beyond the glass lab: science’s gender gap
Scientific research has long been a driving force for progress, yet gender disparities in academia persist worldwide. As we celebrate International Women's Day, the release of the White Paper on Gender Policies in Science and Academia—compiled by the Research and Gender Commission (IgR) of the Network of Associations of Spanish Researchers and Scientists Abroad (RAICEX)—serves as both a wake-up call and a roadmap for a more equitable future.
Bringing together data from 14 countries, this open access publication in Spanish highlights both global challenges and effective policy measures that can reshape the academic landscape. Structural barriers such as the "glass ceiling" and unconscious biases continue to limit the representation of women at the highest levels of academia. While gender policies and initiatives have been introduced in many institutions, without effective implementation, they risk of these being symbolic rather than transformative is real.
One Science, Many Voices: Discovering Global Gender Patterns
Work on this White Paper began in 2021 as a short case study presented at the XI European Conference on Gender Equality in Higher Education. While the original study included 7 countries, the overwhelmingly positive response led to its expansion into a comprehensive analysis spanning 14 countries. With 26 authors—20 of them women—the study aimed to compare gender equity benchmarks across different cultural and institutional contexts. The expectation? That every country’s challenges would be unique. The reality? A strikingly similar pattern of structural barriers and persistent gender disparities emerged across all nations examined.
This raises a fundamental—albeit not one that’s new at all—question: Can policies alone change the landscape of gender equity in academia? The findings suggest that while policies are essential, they must be backed by institutional commitment, cultural and mindset shifts, and consistent enforcement to drive real transformation.
One of the key contributions to this report is the Australia-specific chapter, led by CHL’s Dr. Sofia Samper Carro, who is also a co-editor of the book. Australia presents a complex landscape for women in science—despite a larger percentage of women accessing and completing higher education studies and national initiatives like the Science in Australia Gender Equity (SAGE) program and Athena SWAN accreditation making strides toward equality, progress remains slow. Gender parity at junior levels has improved, but leadership positions in academia are still heavily skewed in favour of males. “Australia is the only country of the 14 selected where the percentage of women in science is more than 50 per cent; however, only about 25 per cent of women reach full professor status” Sofia states. “Gender policies and grassroot programs, which encourage girls to pursue STEM careers, are working with a developing trend towards a larger percentage of women involved in STEM disciplines. However, parity is still not achieved, with more women working part-time, which affects their promotion and career development opportunities.”
Across the broader Asia-Pacific region, cultural and economic factors add further complexity. Some nations have strong institutional policies but struggle with enforcement, while others rely heavily on grassroots movements and advocacy to push for change. The White Paper underscores the importance of government support in amplifying these efforts, ensuring that gender equity policies translate into real-world opportunities. “One of the points highlighted in the book that surprised us is how, even when each analysed country has its own cultural and social context, the gender gap in science and academia is evident in every country. This suggests that applying policies is not enough; there has to be a change from the bottom up, from families, educators and society to politicians, policymakers and senior leaders, to effectively close the gap.”
Bridging Theory and Practice: Ten Steps Toward Equity
The report outlines ten critical areas for intervention:
- Recognising the Realities – Women remain underrepresented in senior academic roles despite decades of advocacy.
- STEMming the Tide – Encouraging female participation in STEM fields from early education through career progression.
- Laws with Teeth – Enforcing equality plans with measurable outcomes in educational and scientific institutions.
- Bias Detox – Implementing regular training to address unconscious biases in academia.
- Tracking Progress, Not Promises – Evaluating the effectiveness of gender equity programs to ensure meaningful change.
- Balancing the Load – Strengthening policies that support caregiving responsibilities for both men and women.
- Hiring Without Hurdles – Ensuring transparency and fairness in selection processes.
- Counting What Counts – Standardised data collection to track and assess gender policies.
- From Mentor to Model – Expanding mentorship programs to support women in research careers.
- Power in Partnerships – Recognising and integrating grassroots initiatives into national policies.
The findings of this report reinforce a crucial truth: gender diversity in leadership leads to better policies, stronger institutions, and a more innovative research environment. However, achieving true equality requires collective effort. Governments, institutions, and individuals must all play their part in dismantling barriers and fostering inclusive academic spaces.
On International Women’s Day today, this book serves as a reminder that while progress has been made, we are still far from our destination. With sustained commitment and strategic action, the next generation of women scientists will inherit an academic landscape where opportunity is defined not by gender, but by potential.
