Gender balance, one woman at a time
An interesting discussion of gender balance in Physics..
What can be done to increase the number of women in physics? This question keeps committees busy and researchers funded, but the solution seems as elusive as squaring the circle. Four years ago, however, I did my bit: I transitioned from male to female. As this also meant that the number of men in physics was simultaneously reduced by one, it was, as they say in football, a “six-pointer”.
I hasten to add that I didn’t transition in order to improve the male-female ratio among physicists; that really would have been a remarkable thing to do. However, it did mean that when my wave function collapsed into the F state, I was able to conduct some controlled social observations in my work as a teacher. I’m the same person and I’m doing the same job, but in a different gender role.
After a degree, PhD and postdoctoral research I trained…
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In the Dark 
September 2, 2016 at 3:12 pm
At university level, the gender balance could be addressed by REF insisting that only as many men as women from each institution would count towards an institution’s REF “score”. (e.g. if Uni A has 5 female physics staff and 15 male, they can only include 5 female and 5 male staff on their REF submission). Given the REF hiring frenzy that happened previously, I think a lot of positions would open up.
However, I don’t have a good idea of how to fairly include staff undergoing a transition.