An unequal support conundrum

Authors: Shubhendu Sen, Divya Swaminathan

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Summary

It is inevitable that the support one receives from mentors, co-workers and the workplace environment plays a major role in shaping up one’s career. Surveys point to the skewed nature of women/girl participation in STEM careers - not because of a paucity of talent but several other factors including social and cultural values, lack of adequate mentoring and workplace support in general. Most individual success stories, along with self initiative of course, highlight the significance of a mentor.

The Career Support Group - Women in Science (CSGWiS) survey series is an attempt to gather and understand quantitative and qualitative data about work environments as experienced by women and men with advanced degrees. The survey asked respondents about the ‘level of support’ they received in their respective work environments from group leaders (similar to a supervisor in some settings), colleagues, collaborators, clients and family members. ‘Gender’ of the mentor, colleague, collaborator or family member was a variable the respondents had to consider.

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