Máire Geoghegan-Quinn (former European Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science) has presented the report She Figures 2013 on the status of women in science. Once again, the data presented shows that we are far from achieving gender equality in the field of research.
Specifically, the report reveals that only three, if three, out of every ten scientists in Europe is a woman. This data is even more devastating, if it is possible, if one takes into account that women represent 46% of the people who obtain a PhD. This if we talk about the public sector, if we do it about the private sector we find that only 19% of researchers are women.
Of course, the countries of Eastern Europe seem to be the last bastion of equality in science, since they have the best rates of senior academic positions held by female researchers.
Europe has tried to implement various formulas to achieve greater equality in science, but it is clear that initiatives as unfortunate as quotas for women or activities to promote scientific and technological careers among girls have not been very successful. From here we propose a reflection on what initiatives must be launched and that also include men.