29 March 2019
Research by Prof Johann Mouton and Prof Heidi Prozesky, published in the March/April edition of the SA Journal of Science focuses on the experiences of women scientists in Africa. Contrary to expectations, in a web-based survey of 5000 scientists born and living in Africa, Prozesky and Mouton found that women do not report experiencing career challenges to any greater extent compared to their male colleagues. The work shows that the priority should be on addressing the conflict between the roles of work and family, because this is the sole challenge women are more likely to have experienced than men, and the one most frequently experienced by women. Moreover, because this challenge is rooted in systemic social inequities it cannot be addressed through providing material resources alone.
Read the research article
