11/02/2020

Gender inequality is a global reality in mathematics.

Organizadoras e participantes do Encontro Brasileiro de Mulheres Matemáticas

Cecilia Manzoni

A project funded by the International Council for Science and led by the International Mathematical Union has identified gender disparity as a global phenomenon in mathematics, computing, and natural sciences. The research, conducted over three years, surveyed 32,000 male and female scientists from 159 countries to investigate the gender imbalance. The final report , “A Global Approach to the Gender Gap in Mathematical, Computing, and Natural Sciences: How to measure it, how to reduce it?”, shows that female scientists are 14 times more likely to experience harassment. They are also 1.6 times more likely to have their studies interrupted than their male colleagues.

The report states that gender inequality is a global reality in science, particularly in mathematics, and that women's experiences are considerably less positive than men's. Published on the eve of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (February 11), the study offers a list of best practices and recommendations for teachers, parents, educational institutions, and other organizations responsible for science policy.

Born in Italy, IMPA researcher Luna Lomonaco has lived in seven countries and states that "there is strong sexism in academia." Throughout her academic career, she reports having often felt disregarded and belittled by male professors, which led to an uncomfortable habit of frequently questioning her own abilities. "It's a treatment I don't see happening with male colleagues, and that I've seen many female colleagues report. I doubted myself millions of times. The last time may have been yesterday," she points out, having received the 2019 Brazilian Mathematical Society (SBM) Award, among other recognitions.

In Brazil since 2014, Luna believes that women in the country support each other more. “Sisterhood is greater here than in Europe. It was difficult to recognize, when I arrived here, that I had a strong sexist component. It seems to me that in Brazil women are taking a big step towards removing this component from themselves. The competition between them is less. The thinking is 'I don't want to be better than you, I want you to advance with me.'”

For the researcher, diversity in science is a fundamental issue. "It brings completeness and a more comprehensive perspective to the field. The more viewpoints we have on a given issue, the greater the chances of solving the 'puzzle'."

Recognizing the need to change this scenario, IMPA has been implementing initiatives that bring the discussion about gender to the forefront, such as the creation of the institute's Gender Committee and the organization of the 1st World Meeting of Women in Mathematics (WM2), a parallel event of the International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM) 2018. In July of last year, the institute hosted the 1st Brazilian Meeting of Women Mathematicians. Coordinated by researcher Carolina Araujo, the event brought together 300 participants and included roundtables, lectures, and book launches, opening space for discussion of the underrepresentation of women in mathematics. Women represent less than 12% of CNPq research productivity grant recipients in mathematics, probability, and statistics, according to data from the G1 news portal . At Level 1A, the highest level in recognition and grant value, they represent less than 10%.

Discomfort

Besides being a minority, Carolina Araujo says that many women end up abandoning mathematical research during their careers. According to a survey by researcher Christina Brech (IME-USP), women make up 42% of undergraduate students in the field in Brazil, but only 27% among master's students and 24% among doctoral students.

For Tainara Gobetti, 24, a master's student at IMPA, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science is an opportunity to discuss the topic. “People end up talking about it, exchanging ideas. When there aren't many women doing that, you feel like you don't belong there, you feel more inhibited when entering into a discussion with a group, because it seems like a hostile environment,” said Tainara.

“You feel more pressured to ask questions, clear up doubts, and discuss things with your classmates,” says IMPA doctoral student Ana Carolina de Carvalho, who has often found herself as the only woman in the classroom. “These small difficulties add up, and in the end, it gets tiring. Over time we get used to it, but it’s not something we want to get used to.”

Despite the difficulties, Tainara sees progress. “There are awards that give visibility to women's work, and this brings visibility to girls who are thinking about pursuing these careers. I see that here at IMPA the Summer Course has more girls than in previous editions,” she says. “The presence of Carolina and Luna is like a mirror,” says Ana Carolina de Carvalho.

IMPA and TM² Olympic Girls

Other recent projects by the institute, such as the IMPA Girls' Olympics (MOI) and the sponsorship of the Brazilian team at the European Girls' Mathematical Olympiad (EGMO), seek to attract young women. Launched in early 2019, the MOI encourages participation in mathematics activities and olympiads, stimulating interest in careers in science and technology. Created in October by IMPA, modeled after the EGMO, the Girls in Mathematics Tournament (TM²) involved more than 200 students and is aimed at female students in elementary (from the 8th grade onwards) and high school from public and private schools throughout the country.

Alunas do programa Meninas Olímpicas do IMPA

Science communicator Julia Jaccoud has over 78,000 subscribers on her YouTube channel “A Matemaníaca,” where she has been presenting the subject in an entertaining way since 2015. She only began addressing issues of gender inequality in science in the third year of the project. “I was afraid of the reception, because my audience was predominantly male. I felt more comfortable when I started creating content on the issue with another science communicator colleague,” says the student, who is participating in the Summer Course.

Having a degree in mathematics, the YouTuber didn't feel "directly affected" for a good part of her academic career. "The class was mostly female," she recalls. With the creation of "Existimos," a women's collective at the Institute of Mathematics and Statistics at USP (University of São Paulo), she began to have contact with the experiences of other students and professors. "I saw that the issue is serious, and that the environment can be extremely hostile to women. There were cases of professors who wouldn't let girls ask questions or go to the board to solve problems."

Although it's a risky task, addressing the issue is worthwhile. "I receive messages from girls thanking me for the work. Recently, the father of an 18-year-old student from Unicamp said that the channel has helped his daughter, who has been facing challenges in the classroom for being one of the only girls."