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Article
Gender Matters
Physics Today
  • Jennifer Blue
  • Adrienne L. Traxler, Wright State University - Main Campus
  • Ximena Cid
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2018
Abstract

In a seminar for teaching assistants, one male and one female TA stand up; the professor in charge tells the room that the male TA will get more respect from students. A woman talks to her undergraduate adviser about her desire for a PhD in physics; he replies, “You know physics is hard. Are you sure you want to try to do that?” A physics major asks a senior male professor for advice on getting into a good doctoral program; he suggests that she flirt more at conferences. In his letters of recommendation for students applying to graduate school, a professor consistently describes his male students as “brilliant” and “outstanding” while praising the women for being “conscientious” and “hardworking”; his male students are accepted to more competitive doctoral programs.

DOI
10.1063/PT.3.3870
Citation Information
Jennifer Blue, Adrienne L. Traxler and Ximena Cid. "Gender Matters" Physics Today Vol. 71 Iss. 3 (2018) p. 40 - 46 ISSN: 0031-9228
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/adrienne_traxler/81/