Research shows female scientists missing out on fieldwork

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Recent research shows that female scientists are missing out on important fieldwork because of multiple barriers, including negative perceptions of their physical capabilities and a lack of field facilities.

Transcript

00:00 Gender roles are really entrained on society.

00:06 So, for example, it is quite often that women will not be invited to go to the field as

00:12 often or once you make it to the field you are carrying something and they tell you,

00:17 "Oh no, that's too heavy," and they take it away from you.

00:20 So in 2016 we did a survey, an international survey, with 140 respondents and many of their

00:27 answers focused on fieldwork issues.

00:31 There were women saying that they were not allowed to go to the field because of their

00:34 gender or that they were put into roles that really weren't key for the field trip.

00:39 Yes, yes, yes, and we are there, we're out there all day and then you go to a conference

00:45 and sometimes someone makes a joke about how we have beach modelling and they put a photo

00:52 of one of the research assistants in a bikini, for example, and that's not nice.

00:58 So what difference does it make to a female scientist's research and her career, I guess,

01:02 if they don't carry out fieldwork?

01:04 It is so important.

01:07 It is crucial for our careers.

01:10 It's being there, it's getting the data, it's understanding the processes, but it's also

01:16 being one in the team.

01:18 So the bonding and the conversations and the discussions that you have in the field, you

01:22 do not get that kind of proximity to other researchers anywhere else in our field.

01:29 You do go to conferences and you speak, but the field is essential.

01:33 You are there relaxed and you are talking about what you are seeing and what it may

01:38 mean.

01:39 So how can female scientists then push back against the situation and ensure that they

01:44 have equal access to fieldwork opportunities?

01:47 Well, I guess the most important is always calling it out.

01:52 So if you see something, if you see that someone is not being invited, just make sure that

01:57 they are.

01:58 If someone is going to remove something heavy from you, you say, no, no, I'm fine.

02:05 When I take groups of students to the field, I always ask, OK, who wants to come and go

02:11 into the waves to deploy their instruments?

02:14 And it's always like young men bring themselves forward.

02:19 And I intentionally wait until there are a few women and then there is a mix.

02:24 So improving opportunities, establishing field codes of conduct is important as well.

02:30 We are going to share all of the photos from the trip, but we are not going to share any

02:35 that embarrasses anyone.

02:37 Acknowledging the challenges that are important, like, OK, if you need a wetsuit, we can try

02:43 to help you find one and so on.

02:46 And also the cultural issues and also foster an enjoyable and supportive fieldwork culture.

02:52 I think this is important and that's something that is not difficult, but it will take time.

02:57 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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