Some uncomfortable truths have recently been unearthed about being a young woman in science. Researchers at Yale University sent application materials for a laboratory manager position to 127 different professors at research-intensive universities. Each professor received an identical application, but 63 were assigned a male name and 64 a female name. On average, the professors rated the "male" applicants as more competent, and would offer them a higher starting salary and more mentoring.
These results were certainly a surprise to me. Although I sometimes get pretty odd reactions when I tell people I want to go into theoretical physics ("That's unusual for a woman! There can't be many other girls on your course!"), I have not experienced any sexism from my department, and I certainly can't imagine any of the professors I've met here being sexist. However, as this article shows only too clearly, even the best of us are prey to subconscious biases that go against our most fundamental beliefs. And there may also still be cases in which gender bias is far from subconscious.
This is not a simple case of men oppressing women. In fact, female professors were just as likely as male professors to rate the "female" applicants poorly. A number of studies have also suggested that a woman may discriminate against herself on account of her gender. For example, researchers at the University of Arizona set three groups of men and women the same maths test.
To the first group, the test was described as a "problem solving exercise for the study of general aspects of cognitive processes", but to the second group the test was described as a "standardised test for the study of gender differences in mathematical performance". The third group were given the same description as the second, but were also warned that gender related anxiety or stereotypes could cause women to underperform.
Amazingly, the women in the first and third groups performed equally to the men, while the women in the second group performed significantly worse than the men. This striking result demonstrates just how easy it can be for gender to stand in the way of success, and the importance of awareness in combatting this effect.
So what is a woman in science to do? Try her utmost to forget her gender so that it does not disadvantage her? Personally, I would not be satisfied with this solution. I believe that women should be treated as equal to men, whether or not they choose to wear high heels and lipstick.
Whether I am wearing a pink ball gown or dungarees does not affect my ability to do quantum mechanics, and I retain the right to wear either. OK, so wearing the pink ball gown and heels into the lab might be a tad inappropriate, but I'm trying to illustrate a principle here. Both women and men have the right to be stereotypically feminine in their dress and lifestyle, should they choose, even while following a traditionally "male" career, and they should not face any penalty for doing this. Who says the person who solves the mystery of dark matter can't also enjoy shoe shopping?
I believe the solution is simple in principle, although terrifically hard to implement. Firstly, we need to encourage and publicise research into gender biases, such as that mentioned above, so that both men and women can guard against it. Secondly, we need to get the message out there that success is not "un-feminine".
This is one of the great achievements of the Women of the Future Awards in association with Shell - to show that women can achieve great things without their femininity immediately evaporating in a puff of smoke. The publicity surrounding these awards means that the winners can act as role models for young women and girls having trouble reconciling their career ambitions with the image of an "ideal woman" presented to them by some parts of society and the media.
Although turning the tide of the deep-rooted (and often subconscious) public opinion that affects how women are viewed by others and how they view themselves is undeniably difficult, I remain hopeful that, with a concerted team effort, it can be achieved.
Francesca Day is a shortlister of the 2012 Women of The Future Awards.
The awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday 20 November and is hosted by Real Business in association with Shell.