Women are under-represented in physics, and face many additional hurdles in their careers compared with men, such as sexism, harassment and unequal opportunities. Here, we highlight the amazing work of current female physicists, the latest news and studies on gender inequality, and women from history whose significant contributions are often glossed over.
Equity and opportunity for women in physics
Physics is something that girls fancy
Jess Wade says that recent high-profile comments that girls don’t like physics perpetuate false gender stereotypes and limit young people’s aspirations
Why we need to keep talking about equality in physics
Jess Wade and Maryam Zaringhalam discuss the implications of poor diversity in physics – and what can be done to create a level playing field in the subject
How to create a conference environment that welcomes everyone
Caroline Müllenbroich and Sarah Croke describe how they supported under-represented groups at the Conference for Undergraduate Women and Non-bina...
Surveys and studies
Read article: White heterosexual men have systematic advantages in science, finds study
White heterosexual men have systematic advantages in science, finds study
An analysis of survey data has found that white able-bodied heterosexual men are uniquely privileged and experience a wide range of advantages at work
Read article: Citing like it’s 1995: why women physicists find their papers referenced less
Citing like it’s 1995: why women physicists find their papers referenced less
Analysis shows that general physics journals have the largest citation gap between men and women in physics
Read article: Female academics migrate shorter distances and to fewer countries than men, finds study
Female academics migrate shorter distances and to fewer countries than men, finds study
Analysis suggests that the gender gap among mobile scholars is narrowing
Read article: Improving soft skills crucial to keeping women in science, finds study
Improving soft skills crucial to keeping women in science, finds study
Early-career women in science who spend time developing their “soft skills” see a boost in their self-confidence and likelihood to stay in work
Read article: Women less likely to be included as authors on scientific papers, finds study
Women less likely to be included as authors on scientific papers, finds study
Effect seen at every stage of a woman’s career and may help to account for differences in the observed output of male and female scientists
Read article: Lab gender roles not due to personal choice, finds study
Lab gender roles not due to personal choice, finds study
Male and female task preferences for experimental work are largely the same despite what is seen in the lab
Women working in physics today
Great female physicists of the past
Exploring the nuclear world: the life and science of Gertrude Scharff-Goldhaber
Sidney Perkowitz delves into the life of the trailblazing nuclear physicist, who overcame significant odds to pursue her work
Hertha Ayrton: pioneering inventor and suffragette
Anita Chandran explores the remarkable life of Hertha Ayrton – a physicist, mathematician, engineer, inventor and suffragette whose work benefitted the lives of many
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Related events
- Optics and photonics | Workshop Control of Ultrafast (Attosecond and Strong Field) Processes Using Structured Light 26 June — 14 July 2023 | Dresden, Germany
- Culture, history and society | Virtual event 8th International Conference on Women in Physics (ICWIP 2023) 10—14 July 2023
- Materials | Meeting Faraday Discussion – Electrosynthesis 12—14 July 2023 | Edinburgh, UK
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