Historically excluded groups in ecology are undervalued and poorly treated

Abstract

Hostile workplaces undermine efforts to make the ecological sciences more inclusive and welcoming. Survey responses by members of the Ecological Society of America (ESA) and subscribers to the ECOLOG‐L listserv provide a snapshot of a range of workplace experiences in ecology. The bottom line: identity matters. Although the majority of respondents reported positive workplace experiences (for instance, receiving mentorship), historically excluded groups – including scientists of color; women; lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, pansexual, asexual, and other non‐heterosexual (LGBQPA+) individuals; and those who identify as disabled – on average were 1.5 times more likely to encounter negative workplace experiences (for instance, sexual harassment, interpersonal mistreatment, and insulting behaviors) as compared to their counterparts in the historical majority. Moreover, historically excluded groups were more likely to report opting out of professional opportunities, more likely to have considered leaving their institution, and twice as likely to consider a career change. We provide recommendations for professional associations, academic institutions, and other employers of ecologists to address interpersonal mistreatment through culture and policy changes.

Inequity in authorship of North American lichens

“…While the above-mentioned inclusive practices (e.g., commitment to recruitment and engagement in heterophily in collaboration, multidimensional mentorship, advocacy and allyship from men) can guide individual action, systemic bias and exclusion may act at larger scales beyond an individual. At the base level, peer accountability can reduce exclusionary behaviors and shift community culture to minimize harm (Primack et al 2023). In herpetology, Chuliver et al (2021) report that the lack of women in society leadership roles may reduce visibility of women as role models.…”

Exclusionary Behaviors Reinforce Historical Biases and Contribute to Loss of Talent in the Earth Sciences

“…Individuals who selected more than one race or ethnicity were included in more than one paired comparison, as appropriate. We are combining data from this and a similar survey of the ecological sciences (Primack et al., 2022) to test for the effect of intersectionality.…”

Welcoming More Participation in Open Data Science for the Oceans

“…Second, the geosciences remain one of the least diverse STEM fields (Burton et al 2023, Marín-Spiotta et al 2020, along with ecology (Primack et al 2023). We recognize that these inequities, and potential solutions, are highly varied and multidimensional.…”