Women University Teachers of Natural Science,1971-72: An Empirical Survey

Abstract

A study of women university teachers of natural science in England and Wales was undertaken, by mail questionnaire, during the academic year 1971-72. It was designed to examine women scientists' preference for the life sciences, and to test the hypothesis that they tend to have atypical family and educational backgrounds. The findings support the primary hypothesis that certain social and educational factors may pre-dispose women to become scientists, despite the wider consensus that science is a `masculine' field. Respondents were often found to have those familial features generally associated with high-ranking men, to be related to other older scientists, and to have been to single-sex schools. One third were unmarried, and a further third had no children. A secondary hypothesis, in terms of nurturance and role-consonance, to explain women scientists' preference for biological disciplines, was not confirmed. This Note presents the survey data. A bibliography is added to facilitate an understanding of the wider context and relevance of the data.