Closing the scissor-shaped curve: Strategies to promote gender equality in academia

Johanna A Joyce; Slavica Masina; Liliane Michalik; Caroline Pot; Christine Sempoux; Francesca Amati

doi:10.1016/j.cell.2024.01.050

Closing the scissor-shaped curve: Strategies to promote gender equality in academia

Cell. 2024 Mar 14;187(6):1335-1342. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.01.050.

Authors

Johanna A Joyce¹, Slavica Masina², Liliane Michalik³, Caroline Pot⁴, Christine Sempoux⁵, Francesca Amati⁶

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Oncology and Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland. Electronic address: johanna.joyce@unil.ch.
² Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
³ Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; Center for Integrative Genomics, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; Rectorate, University of Lausanne, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁴ Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; Service of Neurology, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁵ Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; Institute of Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) and University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; Dean's office, Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
⁶ Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, 1005 Lausanne, Switzerland. Electronic address: francesca.amati@unil.ch.

PMID: 38490175
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.01.050

Abstract

Gender inequality in STEM fields remains pervasive and undermines the ability for talented individuals to excel. Despite advances, women still encounter obstacles in pursuing academic careers and reaching leadership positions. This commentary discusses the "scissor-shaped curve" and examines effective strategies to fix it, including data-driven initiatives that we have implemented at our university.

MeSH terms

Academia*
Female
Gender Equity*
Humans
Leadership
Universities