Women in physics in Lithuania: the problems and ways to solve them

摘要

The results of studies on women in science in Lithuania parallel those obtained by the American Institute of Physics in 2000. The percentage of women decreases markedly up the academic and career ladders in scientific institutions and universities in Lithuania. Women comprise 20% of the students in the universities, and 16% of all Ph.D. degrees are awarded to women. But the number of women does not exceed 1%-2% in the two top management levels of universities and scientific institutions. Our analysis shows that the factors influencing the lack of women in physics can be separated into two groups. The first group of factors are those caused by the gender identity of women and the specific role predetermined for them in nature and in the society. In our opinion, these factors are principal. They influence the way of thinking, priorities, and attitudes of women. The relatively long time necessary to take care of children is often fatal to their career in physics. The best time is lost, and it is very difficult to get back the lost positions and necessary qualifications. Physics is a science where the percent of women is relatively small. It looks like the answer to the question of why physics is not as attractive for women as the other sciences is closely connected with both the characteristic features of women's psychology and the peculiarities of the scientific field, and that these factors should be seriously studied.