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"Picture a Scientist": Researcher Jane Willenbring at work
Photo: mindjazz pictures
Women are underrepresented in the natural sciences.
For many years, universities and government agencies have therefore endeavored to get girls and women enthusiastic about the so-called MINT subjects - that is, mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology.
Now the topic has hit the big screen, at least the virtual one.
The US filmmakers Ian Cheney and Sharon Shattuck have created a feature-length documentary called “Picture a Scientist”, which can be seen in online cinemas at Vimeo from today. The film traces the struggle of a retired biologist for equality and lets chemists and geologists report on their work. A total of around a dozen American researchers have their say, interviews alternate with recordings from the laboratory, statistics and study results support the narrative.
The key data of the problem can be quickly summarized: women are in the minority in the natural science faculties of universities;
the further up the academic career ladder, the lower its share.
Although the figures all relate to the USA, it looks similar in Germany.
Women scientists experience discrimination
What the film also shows: women who have a career in research often suffer from discrimination and abuse.
According to a study by the US National Academy of Sciences, which is quoted in the film, half of US women scientists have been molested at some point in their careers.
Movie poster: Illustrations add visual variety to the film
Photo:
mindjazz pictures
One of them, geologist Jane Willenbring, tells in the documentary about a research expedition that turned into a nightmare for her. As a master’s student with three men in the Antarctic, she became a target of bullying. The head of the mission, a renowned geologist, abused and abused them. None of her colleagues came to her aid. She accepted it, says Willenbring - because she feared for her career. It was not until 17 years later, when she established herself as a scientist and had a permanent position, that she submitted a complaint to the university.
Not all of the women who have their say in the film have experienced physical assault.
But they all know forms of discrimination: They are ignored at meetings or not even invited;
in the end the male colleague is promoted;
or if not, they are assumed to have "slept up".
One achievement of the film is to show how much even such supposed little things wear down the researchers.
In the long term, a psychologist explains, this subtle discrimination can have the same consequences as a single traumatic experience.
The documentary lets men get away with it
"Picture a Scientist" does not succeed in questioning the role of men in this system. The fact that almost exclusively women have their say is on the one hand consistent. On the other hand, the picture remains incomplete. The encroaching geologist only appears in the stories of Willenbring and her colleagues. The fact that he lost his job at the university as a result of your complaint - the dean in charge can take credit for this decision in the interview.
The attempt at another confrontation is disappointing: You can see Willenbring talking to a colleague who was part of the Antarctic expedition at the time and did not intervene.
The man is remorseful, but immediately saves himself in justifications.
Clearly he noticed at the time that the expedition leader had treated his colleague badly.
But he "never thought that it would hit you so badly."
After all, she always gave herself so confidently.
The system has to change
The filmmakers let him get away with this argument. And so reproduce the dangerous thought that something about the severity of discrimination changes in how the victim behaves. At this point the concept of only telling the story from the perspective of women tips over - because it obscures the role men play in the problem, but also in its solution.
Yes, the researchers in “Picture a Scientist” are clever, inspiring and impressive proof that science needs women.
As champions and ambassadors, they do a lot to make it easier for girls and young women to get into research.
But all of this is of little use if the system that suppresses them does not change from within.
So if male researchers don't start pondering when only people of their own gender take part in a conference.
Or not ask the personnel officers at universities whether they are promoting the man again because his colleague could become pregnant.
"Picture a Scientist" can be seen from April 29 for four weeks in the online cinema at
Vimeo
(for a fee).