(Re)searching for new frontiers
By Neeraj Khullar
THE definition of research as given in the Webster’s International dictionary is “ a careful critical enquiry or examination in seeking facts or principles”. Without question, women have made substantial progress in science careers over the past 25 years.

Male viewpoint
Let’s change...
By Ivninderpal Singh
INDIA abounds in goddesses and as a corollary, one would expect a lot of respect for the women of the country. But, ironically, the reverse is true. Women are second class citizens, with no identity and status of their own. 

(Re)searching for new frontiers
By Neeraj Khullar

THE definition of research as given in the Webster’s International dictionary is “ a careful critical enquiry or examination in seeking facts or principles”. Without question, women have made substantial progress in science careers over the past 25 years. Yet it is equally obvious that in many areas, full gender equity still remains elusive.

In a project access study at Harvard University, female scientists when compared with male scientists were perceived as less aggressive, combative and self promoting in the pursuit of career success. Let us analyse the situation in the Indian set-up.

Dr. Nisha Dogra, a scientist doing research on tuberculosis at the Institute of Microbial Technology is glad to choose research as her career as it involves lot of input, devotion and concentration. She says “Research helps me to teach my children in a more practical way, to satisfy their curiosities and to make them think more creatively”. Nisha feels that she has to really work hard to cope up well with her male colleagues. " At the home front too, full co-operation from her husband is required in order to balance research and family life. She feels that she has a bright future abroad but had to decline offers from overseas as her children were small. “But now they have grown up and I am planning to go”. Notwithstanding these pressures, she manages her day to day routine in addition to the social obligations. “ I always start work with a plan and usually focus on the family first and then research”, she says. She does most of her research work on week days only and uses a planner for her schedule, phone numbers and notes.

Women are raised in such a social system that makes us think that a woman needs a family to be successful. If a woman does pursue a career, she must be able to maintain that career along with a family. Also, because certain scientific fields are dominated by males, there are no prominent role models for women to look up to.

Dr. Saroj Jindal left a research career in immunopathology, in order to fulfil her duties towards home.

“In spite of my interest and ambition I had to compromise with the situations, there was no way out but to choose between my family life(due to my husband’s posting) and my research career. I was also mentally disturbed because of some family tragedies. So I preferred to give importance to my family life. In general, I always feel that men still have an upper hand in society. Most of the time it is the women only who have to make adjustments for the betterment of family life. It is difficult to question men about being late or working late. But most women still have to face explanations at each and every step, in spite of their sincerity and honesty”. She carries with her nostalgic memories of her research days. She also had to forgo her fellowship at the United States. Though she sacrificed her research career, she regrets it, and would still love to jump into the fray.

It has been correctly said that women have to work twice as hard to get half of what their male counterparts achieve. This seems most apt for scientific research. Why are women made to believe that they have to juggle both their career and their family? Why can’t they pursue what they want and not what the society demands from them? Little girls are given dolls and kitchen sets to play with, whereas they should be encouraged to use magnets, microscope or chemistry sets. We must give them equal opportunities and make them aware of prominent female scientists.

Dr. Chetna Vaishnavi, doing research on gastrointestinal microbiology at the PGIMER, has taught her children time management and to adjust to simple meals at times, be it sandwiches for supper or having to eat outside. She manages her social responsibilities with time spacing between various events.

As far as her husband is concerned, Dr. Chetna gives all credit to him, “ Yes, he is the man pushing me forward. He guides me during my turbulent phases and lends full support in all my endeavours”. Despite resistance from her family members, Dr. Chetna went abroad for an year on a post doctoral fellowship leaving behind her husband and school-going children. However, she had to cut short her visit and return back to cater to the needs of her family. She does not believe in competitions, “ I only believe in work satisfaction and set deadlines to complete a task. When I fail to complete it, I feel gloomy and lose sleep over it”. However, she believes that it is a male dominated world “At times, it was tough going with people trying to destroy the hard work”. Nevertheless, she is indebted to some of her senior male colleagues for her success. “Sometimes even a negative gesture brings about a positive result”.

Historically, the mentality and dynamics of the workplace have tended to favour one gender. We must realise that the laws of any science hold true for everyone. They do not make exceptions based on sex, race or religion.

Dr. Parveen Balgir working on the molecular genetics of Alzheimer’s disease at the Punjabi University, Patiala feels that tension mounts up if one falls short of expectations at the domestic front. “Taking up scientific research is one of the most difficult career options for women as it entails a 24- hour working schedule. The career is fraught with tension, time and resource limitations”. However, she availed of an opportunity to spend two years in Moscow, as her parents and husband were very co-operative in taking care of her school-going children at that juncture. She feels that the support of ones colleagues is rarely available due to professional jealousies. How does she fulfil her social obligations? “Social interactions become restricted due to time constraint and at times a women scientist is considered a snob or an introvert”.

Parveen feels that policies framed earlier for women during the tenure of women as chairpersons of the University Grant Commission need to be continued and strengthened. Such schemes help women scientists to start on a career after her family responsibilities are partially over. She concludes “Liberal funding and flexible working hours with a congenial atmosphere at the work place can go a long way in harnessing the energies of women scientists for the welfare of the nation”.

Analysing the situation from all angles, I feel that there are very different social factors for men and women contributing to different professional outcomes. A woman’s ability to analyse problems with an innate sense of detail is her asset. As colleagues, men treat women as unequal, less hardworking and less competent. The same men, as husbands, expect their wives to give a definite preference to her family and home in comparison to her career. How then do we expect justice from women on all fronts? I am sure, that if we were to get the full support of our family members and colleagues, we could do wonders and create quality data. Nevertheless, hats off to the increasing tribe of devoted women taking on such challenging professions.

After all, science isn’t about fame! It is a process of discoveries, inventions and making a better world which can be greatly augmented with the help of women scientists.

Male viewpoint
Let’s change...
By Ivninderpal Singh

INDIA abounds in goddesses and as a corollary, one would expect a lot of respect for the women of the country. But, ironically, the reverse is true. Women are second class citizens, with no identity and status of their own. As the code of Manu states: 'A woman should never be independent. Her father has authority over her in childhood, her husband in youth, and her son in old age.'

No amount of education and modernisation has been able to water down this age-old tradition. Irrespective of social class, the notion that a woman's job must not interfere or compete with her primary role of wife and mother continues to hold sway. The domination of men over women is manifest in almost all walks of life. It is reflected in the form and extent of work, in political participation, health, representation in decision-making bodies, access to property etc.

These processes, instead of improving the lot of men and women, have generated regional imbalances, sharpened class inequalities and augmented gender disparities, hitting women's status in the contemporary Indian society the most.

The reservation of seats for women in the local bodies, according to the 73rd and74th Amendments to the Constitution, have provided an opportunity for them to participate in the decision- making process. Their reservation in Parliament is also on the cards. Modern society has also opened many avenues for women which have made her economically independent.

But has this political and economic empowerment improved her status in society? Has the male dominated society accepted her in her new role? No, the statistics say. The number of dowry-death cases, cases of amniocentesis, female infanticide, child marriage, rape etc. are on the rise. While the 33 per cent reservation for women in local bodies has ensured the presence of a large number of women in position of power, the practical reality is that they still are unable to exercise this power. Decisions are generally taken by their husbands or other male relatives and they merely rubber stamp their decisions.

In the economic sphere too, they are now earning equal to their male counterparts but the decision of spending that money is solely taken by her husband. So this pseudo empowerment in political and economic spheres has denied the status due to her.

So the real problem lies in the role stereotyping. Not only the social system but the educational system also perpetuates stereotypes and creates new ones. This gender bias is quite revealing in textbooks too. There have been a number of studies on the content of textbooks which suggest that boys are invariably depicted as outgoing, adventurous, brave and helpful while girls are shown as dependent, submissive, quiet and obedient.

The differentiation in role expectation from a boy child and girl child starts from the very beginning. So, the actual problem lies with the socialisation process itself.

Our society needs to have psychic mobility which means that males should now accept her in new role with the changing politico-economic and socio-cultural atmosphere. Social mobility of women is possible only if the male dominated society becomes psychologically mobile.