Women and science: how to fight stereotypes

In celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, Prof. Maria Luisa Gasparri, Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences of Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) as well as gynaecologist and breast specialist at Centro di Senologia della Svizzera Italiana, Stefania Rizzo, Adjunct Professor at the Faculty of Biomedical Sciences of the USI and Deputy Head of the EOC Radiology Clinical Research Unit, and Prof. Monica Landoni, Adjunct Professor at USI Faculty of Informatics, were guests on the radio programme "La consulenza" (Rete Uno - RSI).

Internationally, women make up only 28% of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) graduates. "This day serves as a chance to raise public awareness and promote understanding about gender inequality," explained Professor Maria Luisa Gasparri. "This year is particularly significant because it marks the tenth anniversary of its establishment by UNESCO. The reason for celebrating this anniversary is the ongoing need to address the fact that, although the percentage of women researchers has increased over the years, it is still not optimal." Citing two provocative editorial titles on the subject, Professor Gasparri introduced the heart of the problem: "Why so few?" and "Why so slow?" Some theories see the cause of the discrepancy in biological differences, which, according to Professor Gasparri, can only be partially true. In fact, "Believing that only men excel in certain subjects, and women in others, is too superficial and simplistic." Professor Gasparri stated that global data reveals varying percentages of women involved in science across different countries, challenging stereotypes and indicating that opportunities likely play a significant role in this situation rather than innate differences alone.

Professor Gasparri highlighted findings from studies indicating that there are no differences in logical-computational and mathematical abilities between boys and girls until pre-adolescence. This means that they face similar challenges when solving math problems or completing logic exercises. However, between the ages of 10 and 12, as children seek to find a social group to belong to, a gap in performance emerges. This creates an unconscious model for children to identify with, leading to the idea that "believing in the difference creates the difference," as stated by Professor Gasparri. A study was carried out at the USI, during which the drawings of 400 children were analysed. The children were asked to draw what a computer scientist typically looks like. Illustrating the study results, Professor Monica Landoni explained how they confirmed the presence of certain stereotypes: "From our study, it emerged that, unfortunately, stereotypes do exist, perhaps more in older children than in children in the early years of primary school. The representations created present some of the most classic stereotypes: we have the typical computer scientist with hair sticking up in all directions and glasses, surrounded by various types of devices and wearing a white coat and improbable socks and shoes. These stereotypes, which persist, represent one of the obstacles that hinder girls from pursuing a career in informatics and science because when someone thinks of a computer scientist, they imagine a man and not a particularly attractive one. However, there is a glimmer of hope, as some images showed smiling women surrounded by smiling robots".

The study revealed that younger children are less influenced by stereotypes than older children. This is why Professor Landoni's team invests significantly in collaborating with primary schools and their teachers. "By exploiting technology, which is fascinating for boys and girls, we want to encourage them to reflect. The research of one of my PhD students deals with this very topic: games and activities are proposed to recognise and identify stereotypes. Overcoming them takes time, but awareness is an important first step".

Working with schools is doubly important because sometimes the teachers advise girls not to pursue a career in science; as Professor Landoni explains: "We have gathered numerous stories from girls who studied at USI. Among these stories, some girls felt encouraged to pursue their studies, while others were advised against it because they were deemed "too pretty" to study informatics. This raises the question of whether there is a perceived conflict between physical appearance and pursuing a degree in informatics. Personally, I took part in a Europe-wide initiative involving female scientists from all over the world who were examining a topic from a multidisciplinary point of view. In my case, it was specifically about gender balance in informatics. It emerged that this problem exists worldwide: in India, parents don't send their daughters to study informatics to protect them, and in Slavic countries, women are advised to opt for a less demanding career because they will also have to think about family. At the moment, the most virtuous country is Norway, which has managed to reach 25% female presence in informatics thanks to a considerable financial commitment: the most deserving high school students are offered the possibility of having all their studies paid for, in this way they bring a new perspective within the faculties and attract more girls".

Talking about the current number of female students enrolled in the Faculty of Informatics at USI, Professor Landoni observed that, although in line with Europe and the rest of the world, they are still relatively low: "Studies in the United States indicate that when a group makes up less than 25% of a total population, isolation can occur. Individuals in this minority may feel disconnected from their surroundings and experience negative effects due to a lack of representation." The literature confirms that girls often don't feel up to a career in informatics at the moment of choosing. "There is no scientific reason why a woman cannot excel in informatics; it largely stems from stereotypes that can influence choices. On the other hand, some American studies suggest that the primary reasons girls choose a career in informatics are parental encouragement and the multidisciplinary nature of the field. Girls often view informatics as a tool that can be applied in various areas, seeing it as a means to an end rather than an end itself."

Professor Gasparri recently completed her analysis of a USI study conducted among students in the final two years of a Master's degree in Medicine across Switzerland. Her research aimed to understand why there is such a high desire to leave the medical profession among the new generation, with a dropout rate of 35% after their first experiences in hospitals. This data was gathered from a study involving 2,300 students, focusing on the transition from university to patient care. "I therefore thought that this alarming trend may stem partly from the discrepancies between students' expectations and the reality of the models they have in mind. In our analysis, we then investigated the expectations, priorities and interest in research for both male and female students. It emerged that of the 43% of participants who expressed an interest in research, 70% were women. It is a very optimistic figure, showing that things are changing. In terms of priorities, we asked them to rank family, career and salary, and 48% of participants, regardless of gender, prioritised family, while 23% prioritised career, and of these 23%, 70% were women. One last interesting fact concerns that 12% of the participants considered the use of measures to extend the fertility period because they do not feel ready, either now or in the years to come, to reconcile family and work. From the point of view of prospects, surgical branches remain more of interest to men".

Do patients still have certain prejudices in the medical field? "Prejudices certainly exist," admitted Professor Stefania Rizzo, "we can't erase them, but we can change how we deal with them. It must be said that it is rare to encounter prejudice in our workplace; it is often a question of misunderstandings related to roles. With female patients, it is easier to create empathy from the start, while sometimes male patients, especially if they are of a certain age, may be initially reluctant to be examined by a woman. However, I think that overall, acceptance among my patients is the same among men and women." Professor Gasparri shared her personal experience, noting that some female patients still visualise the surgeon as a male figure; however, she emphasised that these perceptions only represent initial barriers. "I have never encountered a lack of trust or satisfaction at the end of the visit or treatment process due to this initial prejudice. This shows that what makes the difference is how a professional carries out their job", explained Professor Gasparri.

As far as the relationship with colleagues is concerned, as Professor Rizzo pointed out, according to some studies, in predominantly male environments, women tend to collaborate more with each other, creating a horizontal network. At the same time, men are more inclined to seek collaboration with their bosses, therefore a vertical network. "Personally, I have found myself in predominantly male environments during my career," said Professor Rizzo, "so I have felt discriminated against. However, I have learnt to distinguish between facts and feelings, and I believe this is the key: we need to understand what happened and what it triggered in us. When we separate the two, everything works better because we can act on the facts and discuss them while feelings are personal. I think the best way to overcome prejudice from colleagues is to prove our worth. Unfortunately, as women, we often still have to prove that we can do more and that we are up to the role we cover, but also that we can make a commitment and keep it, as there is a recurring idea that a woman, due to family commitments, is not able to fulfil the work commitments she has undertaken".

An important issue raised by Professor Gasparri concerns the possibility of reconciling family and work and the importance of receiving support and collaboration from one's partner and family in general. In this regard: "Like all working mothers, I strive to be a brave warrior who conceals the sadness of being separated from my children, especially when my duties require me to be away. I believe that demonstrating how life is made up of duty and discipline is more impactful than just talking about it. To give myself strength, I remind myself daily that, although it involves sacrifice, I am providing my daughters with a model of a mother who, like their father, has a job that demands commitment and should be taken seriously. I need to run parallel to the loving role of a stay-at-home mom while fulfilling my responsibilities." Referring to her personal story, she recalled that: "I too grew up with a working mother, and even though I may have missed her on some occasions, I learnt to value quality time over quantity". The other two professors, who briefly shared their personal stories, confirmed the importance of family support and freedom of choice.

In choosing to pursue a profession in the medical field, the presence of female role models plays a fundamental role, as Professor Rizzo pointed out: "I chose to study medicine because, from a very young age, I was inspired by the figure of the paediatrician. This choice solidified over the years through conversations with teachers, friends, and women who, as doctors, demonstrated a working style and approach to others that I greatly admired. Additionally, I have always loved the idea of conducting research. While my peers looked up to singers or dancers, my inspiration came from Marie Curie, the first woman to win a Nobel Prize and the only person to receive two in different scientific fields. She has always been a significant role model for me because she faced numerous challenges in her pursuit of success, all driven by her deep passion, often in collaboration with her husband. I believe it is important for girls today to have role models who are motivating rather than unattainable."

Reflecting on her studies, Professor Landoni realises that she was fortunate due to her unique background as a former student at a high school focused on the humanities. This experience enabled her to easily draft reports for group projects, allowing her to stand out and be appreciated for her individuality. "However, I noticed a shift in how I was treated after my daughters were born. Even though my husband and I attended the same conferences to present our work, he was regarded as the professor participating in the event. In contrast, I was seen as the wife accompanying him to care for our daughters. When I took the stage, people were often surprised by my presence and accomplishments." Professor Landoni's words were followed by those of Professor Gasparri, who admitted that "in some work contexts, unfortunately, there is still a distorted view of parenthood and having children does not have the same effect for men and women in the world of work, witnessing a curious phenomenon of "Babies Bias" in which there seems to be a "Maternity Penalty" and a "Paternity Premium".

The three professors conclude by sending a positive message to the younger generations, inviting young men and women to make choices about their future free from stereotypes so that knowledge and progress are not trapped in the cages of prejudice.

The full episode of "La consulenza", with guests Professor Maria Luisa Gasparri, Professor Stefania Rizzo and Professor Monica Landoni, is available at the following link. (Italian only).