Women’s Career Pathway in Chemical Sciences; a Multi-stage Investigation in Kerala
Funded by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC), Cambridge, UK
Kerala, a relatively small state in India has witnessed several revolutionary movements led by women in history. The social framework of the state itself is developed in an inclusive manner. The advantages of these historical and cultural advantages are reflected in several indices in the educational sector from the Gender Parity Index (GPI) to the Gross enrolment ratio of women in higher education. But the evidence of a "leaky pipeline" in the career pathway of women in Science subjects is contradicting, generally in the country as well. Identifying the extent of this issue in Kerala, specifically on women in Chemical Science is important. More than that, understanding various factors (social, economic, familial, religious, marital) triggering or disfavouring women in chemical sciences in their different stages of career and education is an urgent need. The study, the first of its kind in the country, will help in creating inclusive opportunities in the higher education sector by providing policy-relevant recommendations based on the socio-scientific analysis of career pathways of the women in the state. This will support the career progression of those who are excluded from the mainstream because of their gender or associated reasons in future.
This research is supported by the Royal Society of Chemistry Inclusion and Diversity Fund (May 2020)
PROJECT TEAM
V. Jithin is currently a Research Assistant at the Nature Conservation Foundation, Bangalore. He is a post-graduate in Wildlife Science from the Wildlife Institute of India (Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Govt. of India), Dehradun. He is broadly interested in Ecology, Evolution, Behaviour, Education and Media. He is a former POBE fellow of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Bangalore (Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India). He has completed his Bachelor of Science in Botany from Farook College, Kozhikode (University of Calicut). His current research interests are Habitat Ecology, Behavioural adaptations, Environmental Communication, Education and Gender. Read more Email: [email protected]
P. M. Jasil is currently a Junior Research Fellow at NCU, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR), Bangalore. He is a post-graduate in Chemistry from the Gandhigram Rural Institute, (Ministry of Education, Govt. of India), Tamilnadu. He is interested in Chemical science, Education and Social Services. He is a former POCE fellow of the JNCASR. He has completed his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Farook College, Kozhikode. Email: [email protected]
P. T. Hanan is a post-graduate in Statistics from the University of Calicut. Her major research interest is in data analytics. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics and is interested in literature, and quizzes. Email: [email protected]
K. K. Asmabi is a post-graduate in Psychology from the Central University of Punjab, Bathinda. She is interested in Cognitive Science, Human Personality, Environmental Psychology and Social service. She holds a degree in Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Farook College, Kozhikode. Email: [email protected]
P. Anu is a post-graduate in Chemistry from Farook College, Kozhikode, Kerala. She is interested in Chemical science, Research, Education, Art and Literature. She holds a degree in Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Farook College. Email: [email protected]
T. C. Sreenath is a post-graduate in Sociology from the Central University of Punjab, Bathinda. He is interested in Gender Studies, Feminism, Sociology of Religion, Demographics, Human Rights, Education and Social Service. He is also part of the Youth Wing of the International Human Rights Commission. He had completed his graduation in Physics from NSS College, Ottapalam (University of Calicut). Email: [email protected]
PROJECT UPDATES
Find below updates from the project team! Write to us at [email protected]
IN MEDIA
Kerala: Women in chemical sciences face caste, gender bias, finds study
Careers360 News | 30 June 2022 | R Radhika
NEW DELHI: Keralite women working in chemical sciences face social, cultural, and academic hurdles more than their male counterparts, a new study finds. A research paper titled--Women's Career Pathway in Chemical Sciences- A Multi-stage Investigation in Kerala, India revealed the extent of influence of societal and familial pressures on women scientists. The factors influencing their career decisions include the pressure to get married, financial stability, educational background of the parents, religion, support, or the lack of it from partners and families. [contd.]
കെമിക്കൽ സയൻസിലെ മലയാളി സ്ത്രീ സാന്നിധ്യം: ചില കണ്ടെത്തലുകൾ
Truecopy THINK Webzine | 15 July 2022 | Hanan P.T. & Jithin V.
കെമിസ്ട്രി, സ്ത്രീ എന്നൊക്കെ കേള്ക്കുമ്പോള് സാധാരണ മേരി ക്യൂറിയുടെ പേരാണ് മനസ്സിലേക്ക് ഓടിയെത്തുക. ഹൈസ്കൂള് ക്ലാസില് ടീച്ചര് ക്യൂറി കുടുംബത്തിന്റെ കഥ പറയുമ്പോള് അഭിമാനത്തോടെ തന്റെ ഭാവിവഴികള് സ്വപ്നം കണ്ട ഒരു പെണ്കുട്ടിയുടെ മുഖമാണ് എന്തോ മനസ്സിലേയ്ക്ക് ആദ്യം കടന്നുവരുന്നത്. മേരിയുടെ വഴിയെ അല്ലെങ്കിലും കെമിസ്ട്രിയുടെ ഏതെങ്കിലും ഒരു ശാഖയില് പോലും എത്താന് കഴിയാതെ അവള് ശ്വാസം മുട്ടുന്നത്, കെമിസ്ട്രി ലാബിലെ ഷെല്ഫുകളിലൊന്നില് സ്വപ്നം നിറച്ച് അവള് വെച്ച ബീക്കര് നിലത്തുവീണുടയുന്നത്, പങ്കാളിയും കുട്ടിയും മാത്രമുള്ള ഒരു കുമിളയിലേക്ക് സ്വയം നിറയുന്നത്, എല്ലാം ഒരു മിന്നായം പോലെ അവരോട് സംസാരിക്കുമ്പോള് മനസ്സില് പതിഞ്ഞിരുന്നു. എത്രയൊക്കെ ശ്രമിച്ചാലും പരമാവധി ഒരു ടീച്ചര് പോസ്റ്റ്. അതിലപ്പുറം പോകാന് കഴിയില്ലെന്ന ‘യാഥാര്ഥ്യം' അവള് എപ്പൊഴോ അറിയാതെ അംഗീകരിച്ചിരുന്നു.
