WOMEN IN PHYSICS IN ARGENTINA: A COMPARATIVE STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

Abstract

Urged  by  the need of  detailed  information  concerning  the current situation of  women in Physics in Argentina, we performed  a  statistical study  focused on the  Physics discipline within the  hierarchical  structure of researchers with permanent positions at CONICET. We analyzed gender composition data of the different career stages and studied its evolution in the  past  20 years. The obtained  results reveal the well-known  glass ceiling and its dynamics, unveiling its  relationship  with  differences  arisen during  the  promotion  process in  the  researchers' career. The  analysis  of  evolution  of the percentage  of  women in  Physics shows  that its  projection would  not surpass 30%. This  result  indicates  that  gender balance will  not  be  reached  unless  novel  mechanisms  are  proposed,  actively promoting  the  incorporation  of women  as  researchers. The  results  presented  for  Physics   are  also  compared  with others disciplines in  Natural and Exact Sciences and  the full population  of  researchers in  all  areas working in CONICET