Inequalities faced by women in access to permanent positions in astronomy in France

Abstract

We investigate inequalities in access to permanent positions in professional astronomy in France, focusing on the hiring stage. We use results from a national survey conducted on behalf of the French society of astronomy and astrophysics (SF2A) aimed at young astronomers holding a PhD obtained in France, and answered by over 300 researchers.We find that women are nearly two times less likely than men to be selected by the (national or local) committees attributing permanent positions (p = 0.06). We also find that applicants who did their undergraduate studies in an elite school ("GrandeÉcole"), where women are largely under-represented, rather than in a university, are nearly three times more likely to succeed in obtaining a position (p = 0.0026). Our analysis suggests the existence of two biases in committees attributing permanent positions in astronomy in France: a gender bias, and a form of elitism. These biases against women in their professional life impacts their personal life as our survey shows that a larger fraction of them declare that having children can have a negative effect on their careers. They are half as many as men having children in the sample.

Scientists explain the underrepresentation of women in physics compared to biology in four national contexts

“…We did not include doctorant in our analysis because of a small N. Chargé de recherche or researcher are generally hired by the CNRS and conduct research only and can advance to directeur positions of different grades. Meanwhile, maître de conferences are hired to both teach and research (Berné & Hilaire, 2020).…”

“…We did not include doctorant in our analysis because of a small N. Chargé de recherche or researcher are generally hired by the CNRS and conduct research only and can advance to directeur positions of different grades. Meanwhile, maître de conferences are hired to both teach and research (Berné & Hilaire, 2020). Although this position can be termed as assistant professor, this is a permanent position (Berné & Hilaire, 2020), making it more akin to a tenured associate professor in the US context.…”

“…Meanwhile, maître de conferences are hired to both teach and research (Berné & Hilaire, 2020). Although this position can be termed as assistant professor, this is a permanent position (Berné & Hilaire, 2020), making it more akin to a tenured associate professor in the US context. Maître de conferences can advance to professeur of different grades.…”

Participation of women scientists in ESA solar system missions: a historical trend

“…Their statistics showed that women comprise 22 %-23 % of the permanent research personnel in the field in France, in line with the numbers from the PNP and IAU. Finally, a recent national survey on behalf of the French Society of Astronomy and Astrophysics suggests that at least two forms of bias, namely elitism and gender bias, exist in hiring in French astronomy (Berné and Hilaire, 2020).…”