Myths and Realities of Role Incompatibility of Women Scientists

Abstract

This study aims to gain new insights into the relative importance of 'role incompatibility' in combining a career in science and marnage and a family as an explanation of women's unequal position in science The life histories of women scientists, their family responsibilities and professional partici pation in the scientific community are examined on the basis of empirical data. The data are from a survey of a sample of junior research fellows of the Academy of Finland, which include both women and men, on the one hand, and letter responses to a newspaper announcement by a heterogeneous cross-section of women scientists, on the other The results are reviewed in the light of international findings. Companson of married and single female and male scientists suggests that there is no incompatibility between a scientific career and a family as such. On the contrary, even though family obligations bring an extra work-load for women, marriage seems to have a positive effect on the professional life of women scientists. Married female and male scientists seem professionally more active and productive than their single colleagues.