Women see decrease in science field jobs

Richard Zare is worried that discrimination is embedded into American culture, and that as a result, fewer women are hired in scientific positions. \nZare, a professor at Stanford University, presented the “Sex, Lies & Title IX” lecture Thursday at the Indiana Memorial Union.\nTitle IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 said, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”\nAccording to Zare though, discrimination still takes place, especially in the world of science. Zare explained that the number of women decreased as the level of higher education increased in science, especially in physics. \nThe embedded discrimination is mostly inadvertent but comes to light when analyzing the contents of speech, Zare said. For example, Zare showed a professional letter to colleagues that told employees to “leave your neckties at home.” Zare continued by showing math jokes that discriminated against women and blonds, all of which received laughter from the audience.\nZare offered solutions as to what has been and can be done to fix these problems. Day care and three months paid maternity leave for graduate students and faculty is one measure that Zare helped implement at Stanford, as well as pausing tenure so the new mother doesn’t lose those months while she’s away. \n“We need child care,” Zare said. “We need to help people who have families.”\nThe people who attended the lecture ranged from graduate students looking for something to do between classes to those who simply wanted to hear someone they admired speak in person. \n“I’m really interested to see what he has to say on the issue,” said graduate student Stella Aniagyei before the lecture, having read an article written by Zare appearing in Chemical and Engineering News.\nOne reason Zare chose to give this lecture was to encourage people to look at both men and women when hiring.