Science Networks by Field: Who Seeks Advice and Support from Women?

37 Pages Posted: 19 Mar 2009 Last revised: 13 Nov 2017

See all articles by Mary K. Feeney

Mary K. Feeney

Arizona State University (ASU) - School of Public Affairs

Margarita Bernal

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: March 15, 2009

Abstract

Supporting and advancing women’s science careers continues to be of interest to researchers, scientists, science funders, and universities. Similarly, professional advice and support networks are important to understanding the advancement of scientific careers. This research aims to marry these two lines of research to investigate and compare the ways in which men and women scientists seek advice and support from women in their networks. Using a sample of academic scientists in nonmedical biology, chemistry, computer science, earth and atmospheric sciences, electrical engineering, and physics we assess the extent to which women and men scientists seek advice and support from women in their networks. We find that field of science is the primary predictor for the presence of women in scientists’ advice and support networks. We also find that citizenship, rank, age, and friendship are significantly related to the proportion of women in women’s networks, but are not consistently significantly related to the proportion of women in men’s networks. We conclude with a discussion of the findings and the distinctions between men and women scientists’ advice and support networks.

Keywords: women, science, STEM, advice networks

Suggested Citation

Feeney, Mary K. and Bernal, Margarita, Science Networks by Field: Who Seeks Advice and Support from Women? (March 15, 2009). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1360237 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1360237

Mary K. Feeney (Contact Author)

Arizona State University (ASU) - School of Public Affairs ( email )

Farmer Building 440G PO Box 872011
Tempe, AZ
United States

Margarita Bernal

affiliation not provided to SSRN ( email )

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