Open the Door

Context: The new government policy proposing to rank Indian institutes in science on the proportion of the women they employ is a step in the right direction. However, the need of the hour is to re-design scientific institutions to accommodate talented women.  

Impact of Government Policy:

• Women as leaders: Equity rating will measure the institutes on childcare facilities, but also the concrete opportunities they provide their women colleagues to become leaders. 

• Ensures Equality and Gender Parity: by signaling greater involvement of institutions in seeking to create conditions for the larger realization of equality and gender parity. 

Odds against the women scientists in India:

• Widespread bias about Girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)

• Compelled to choose the "mommy track":

• While the number of women entering University to study science has gone up by 30% since the 1950s, they drop off as they enter teaching or pursue doctoral research.
• Given a choice between nurturing a family and a career in research, women may end up choosing, or being compelled to choose the "mommy track". 

• Ignored re-designing of the systems by the institutions: For, E.g. IITs have a dismal record in employing women at the faculty level.

• Impact of the pandemic: 

• Doubling of women's labour at home, due to lack of childcare and the prolonged shutdown of schools, forcing them out of jobs.

• The productivity and merit of male professionals are shored up by the devalued domestic labour performed by women.

Way Ahead:

• Re-design institutes to put the needs of women at the centre of the agenda: rather than force them to square their lives around the institute's demands 
• Scientific institutions need to realise the true nature of the "level-playing field": (since not everyone flourishes on it) and then find the correct way to correct this bias.