Some people are gender biased when working on research projects. What do you think and what are your feelings in this regard?
I prefer to work with whale co-workers (they don't talk much... and if they do, I don't understand them, anyways ;)
In my background it has just happened that I work better with male fellow researchers, even though so far it has just happened that all my research assistants have been female.
A matter of fate, I guess…
It should not make any difference as long as he/she is serious and likes to contribute and learn. Though most of my coworkers are 99% male because of the type of research involved.
I work in a male environment with 90% "Good Ole Boys" in the "Bible Belt." Sir, sometimes situation dictates safety over learning.. Unfortunately, I have to learn on my off time.
When working on research projects, I have no gender biases. I simply want someone who is willing to work in this regard.
In research projects , i have nothing against boys or girls because they are both equals. If one chooses a boy , it is nothing against discrimination but only a matter of choice. A boy prefer to work with a boy and vice versa for a girl.However , in some research , we need both boys and girls for example a girl interviewing an anonymous boy in the street and a boy interviewing a boy in the same street. The output and data collection will be more than that of the boy depending on the topics they asked the people. But people have more willingness to work with people who are motivated and interested. A boy will never show to the girl that he doesn't work but will make the effort to move on the project research. Preference is only a human kind attitudes moving for awesomeness. Working with professionals will never look on whether he/she. They will only look for quality and the level of he work.
I prefer multi-gender research teams. Gender diversity in teamwork produces better results.
I have no preferences about working with a male or female. What I always wish is to have the best research team not only due to the professional background and experience of the researchers, but to their commitment to work with ethics, modesty, honesty and with a high spirit of cooperation with other members of the team.
I want to work with both because i will give me an general opinion base on both the genders
For me it does not matter if the researcher is female or male: I have written articles together with both. For me it matters that our interests match and that we can both contribute enough and use our skills as well as possible.
I prefer to work alone. If, however, I must be a member of a team then I ask only that the person be someone I've known well for a minimum of 40 years.
It is not gender but commitment colleagues to serious work that matters . Females add their own charm to environment that should conducive to research. i have found females to be good team workers or at least as good males.
So for me gender hardly matters.
Commitment is key. It should apply with any project or task that a person is involved in regardless of their gender. You are there to work and not use your charm. Working is about be honorable.
Multi-gender research teams should be preferred. It can bring different perspectives to the research problem.
Gender doesn't matter in my experience. What matters is a common passion for the research project, diverse skills to complement each other and feeling the alchemy when being together while keeping us on the same page.
I agree with Rania, what matters is diversity as well as utilizing the entire talent force, namely avoiding the wastage of talent. For example, a study published in the Harvard Business Review shows that women excel in communication skills, are better listeners than men, and not only. The study finds that the collective intelligence of a group rises when the group includes more women. Other studies show that women tend to share and collaborate more or prefer to work in teams. Emotional-intelligence skills which are indispensable and valued today. One need point out here that many studies confirm that businesses and companies that utilize or take advantage of their female talent pool have an important competitive advantage and greater success rates, with regard to profits and sustainability. One must also call attention to the alarming predictions that if there is no drastic change in the female employment rate, demographic developments in Europe indicate that by the year 2036 there will be a drop of 24 million in the active workforce!
Indeed, many have observed that women show sincerety, are meticulous and well organized at work. However, it shouldn't be a matter of preference only. We need to work together, collaborate, share etc., crucial due to the economic crisis. For example, today, on a global level, there is a shortage of 1.2 million staff in the ICT sector. The lack of talent in the ICT industry and the small minority of women entering the job market in this field is a disadvantage for all. Women in Europe are also drastically underrepresented across the board in ICT – in the academia, in education, in training programmes, in RESEARCH, in industry and in high level careers in this sector—so we need to address the factors that act as obstacles to inclusion and ensure that the opportunities are open to women on equal terms with men. If not addressed resolutely, the shortage of ICT-oriented women will have a great impact on future generations. Consequently, with regard to technology, Europe’s young people must be re-socialized to view ICT as an appealing or viable career option and field of study for both genders.
As for me, I am willing to work with both. I like to work with honest researchers and hardworkers.
Anyone who contributes equally to any research work is welcome! Both males and females have their own plus points while working. Females are more meticulous and sincere, males are more comfortable with mechanics related work and getting things done from others like skilled personnel (my experience). So both are equally good.
Gender is no matter, but we need to work with honest, really energetic, active, hard working, respectful and serious co-workers. Generally, I prefer to work with females more than males. TQVM
Dear Samer
I have no preference. The researcher needs common sense to understand the needs, difficulties and insecurities of each member of your team and manage any crises that arise
The fact that we're even having this conversation should inspire only embarrassment.
What's next?
Do you prefer to work with Jews, Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, atheists ... an so on?
Or how about White, Yellow or Yellow people?
(Me? I'd prefer polka-dotted hermaphrodites ... but there are too few of them around.)
Sorry, I should have said "polka-dotted hermaphrodite Druids ... and there are certainly too few of THEM!
Gender is not a matter. We should like an energetic, really hardworking, sincere and obviously honest researcher to achieve the desired goal. I think, we should change our outlook. It helps to ensure a nice environment for us.
I would like to work with both males and females. Yet i do not have any problem working with only males or only females.
Howard Doughty:
The fact that too many people responded to my question indicates the type of intelligent community that exists on Research Gate. Labeling this discussion as an “Embarrassment” does not contribute to the spirit of free speech and prevent others from sharing their views. We are not living in a perfect world and no one can deny that gender discrimination exist?
Hmmm.
It seems that my preternatural disgust with racism, misogyny and religious bigotry is not doing well these days. I count 4 "likes" and 5 "dislikes" ...
It's understandable, however, in light of my egregious typos ... such as wondering if people would prefer to rank "White, Yellow or Yellow people" when I should have written "White, Black or Yellow People"?
But, never mind, the underlying thought processes are (I am sad to say) pretty clear.
Note to Samar Baraket:
Whatever your intentions or your keen observation that gender discrimination exists, I do think asking people to rank the sexes in terms of ... whatever criteria ... is rather pointless - other, of course, than giving people an opportunity to declare their biases.
As for "free speech," people who wish to limit free speech tell other people to "shut up" or take some coercive action to silence them. I'm willing to bet that my "free speech credentials" outnumber yours by far. So, you will notice I didn't tell you or anyone else to refrain from comment.
That said, I do think it's embarrassing to be dealing with this topic in this fashion. (Am I at liberty to be embarrassed when others speak, or would that be too impolite?)
At this point, since there is some disagreement here and although Howard Doughty makes an excellent point in stressing that we should not ask if we would like to work with Jews, Christians, Arabs, etc., we need take into consideration here that women are not part of a minority group or one ethnic group (there is diversity here too) and that if you read the entire question it refers specifically to research and/or research projects --(«"Some people are gender biased when working on research projects. What do you think and what are your feelings in this regard?"»--- in which according to international studies women are usually under-represented, especially with regard to funding. Of course there are many reasons for this gender discrimination in Research which cannot be answered only by this one question, but it does set the stage for us to discuss these reasons as they appear in our societies (socio-cultural backgrounds, etc.)…. Ät least that is how I interpreted the question, and based on that I posted my previous pranswers.
I forgot to add, with regard to the above observation, in Greece, women teach more hours and engage in less research in contrast to their male counterparts. They have limited access to male-dominated scientific networks that provide sources and funding for research, and subsequently they have limited opportunities for publications and advancement in the Academia. They constitute an invisible minority in decision-making committees: eg. the Presidents/Chairs of University Research Committees are 100% men.
Research committee members are comprised of 90% men and only 10% women. Their male colleagues, over the age of 50, dominate in decision-making positions or on scientific committees that grant funds, scholarships, distinctions, and influence the orientation of scientific programs and projects. (Vosniadou, 2004)
The General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT), in order to investigate the position of women in scientific research in Greece, commissioned the National Centre for Social Research (EKKE) to conduct a study entitled ―the enhancement of the participation of Greek women in scientific research. Quantitative data coming from 50 public research institutions and research university institutes was included in the first database, according to which women‘s participation in scientific research is relatively limited: only 34, 7% out of the registered 3.221 researchers are women.
Well, the discussions so far are very informative and lively. I agree with Irene that gender discrimination do exist and prevalent in all societies be in developed, developing and undeveloped. One may reach to the highest peak of an organization, but discrimination exists in terms of salary and benefits. What we need is to change our attitude towards women. But the ray of light is, it is gradually diminishing. But we have a long way to go and who knows how long it will take to for us (both male and female) to forget the fact that in workplace what matters is hard work, respect and trust for each others work ethics and extend hands of cooperation.
I exactly repeat the words by Dr.Kamal, because I strongly support the same.
I prefer to work with serious honest researcher whether female or male, it does not matter
Dear All,
What matters in working together is honesty, intelligence and diligence, the gender does not.
I do not want to contradict Kamal, but I prefer cheerful people and not the sad humourless kind.
Dear Irene,
34,7% women is not a bed rate. Please, take into consideration that many women are not interested in science.
Dear Howard,
I have worked and lived with White, Black, Brown and Yellow people. I have found that emotionally, psychically and regarding our desires we are the same. What can cause troubles among us are cultural differences.
It seems that some could not understand your special taste of humour and started to shoot from the entrenchment instead to discuss or ask a question. Never mind, each of us needs lessons!
Please, visit this thread:
https://www.researchgate.net/post/Should_the_RG_down_vote_be_abolished
Yes, I witness a great deal of "literalism" (Biblical and scholarly) and am saddened by the lack of humour in all venues.
As for abolishing the RG "vote down" mechanism, I am indifferent (though I'd prefer that down-voters be compelled to post their home addresses).
Generally speaking, I've been called much worse by far better people (of all ethnicities, nationalities, genders, ages, religions and so on).
Anonymous disapproval (or approval, for that matter) carries about as much weight as student evaluations that are done under administrative auspices that don't even allow a correlation between assessments of teachers and student Grade-Point-Averages or attendance rates (not that those are determinative, but would certainly be interesting).
I digress ...
Dear down-voter(s),
There is here a good thread for you: https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_do_you_deal_with_colleagues_that_try_to_hold_you_back_and_bring_you_down
Please, try to argue! You may earn a lot of RG scores!
You are so kind!
@Dear Andras,
Sorry for the late reply. Teams of 50 synthetic biology labs were studied, and the number of participants was 1264 (according to their database).
You can find more details in the below link.
http://2013.igem.org/Team:Paris_Bettencourt/Human_Practice/Gender_Study
Raoof
Dear All,
I think it is good to know what kind of people are among us. One of the kind down-voters visited my profile and systematically started to down vote each of my comments.
I am waiting for your opinion!
Please, consider, the same thing can happen to everybody too.
You can find here some more information: https://feedback.researchgate.net/responses/how-do-you-like-your-profiles-overview-tab
Hello fellows,
Why do you ask about this preference? This a good point to beginning
It is great that you thought more on person than in gender, but why are you so polite?
Why some colleague suppose that women doesn´t have interest in Science? and Why nobody talk about gender discrimination with facts: salary, male bias in academic standars, ect...
By the way, thank you Samer for open this space.
Dear Almudena,
Thank you for your contribution!
That is exactly the issue I am trying to expose.
Probably because most of the contributors are closet or open misogynists, or just too bloody stupid to understand what they're saying and doing.
Impolite enough?
Note to Pardis Fazil:
I am unsure whether you are delighted or offended by my "way of talking."
In any case, I was responding to the question asked by Almudena Cabezas; namely, "why are you [fellows] so polite?"
As for "an academic atmosphere," do you not agree that academia is largely a jealous, hypocritical, back-stabbing and essentially contested turf where seemingly dispassionate discourse is a thin veneer covering toxic power plays by relentlessly ambitious and utterly unprincipled "scholars" whose toxic social relations are exceeded only by the venomous neoliberal, corporate managerialism that is extinguishing any hint of collegiality and academic freedom?
Sorry, I let an extra "toxic" slip into the previous post.
I didn't mean to be excessively hyperbolic.
For me gender do not matter, i prefer a team of researchers serious, honest, competent, hard worker and sympathetic..
I have experienced working with ladies, men and mixed teams. The only parameters are professionals ones in addition to the inner personality of each one. However i have also faced angry and impolite men (and misogynists) as well as jealous and destructive women; so the personality is a key factor for a successful team.
The age matter, young researchers and students are more open and more serious, honest, hard worker and joyful. I have worked with many of them from masculine gender. They liked working with me as i have a method of coach training ' as in sport' i push them to their limits and they like this, never they were angry with me even if i was occasionally strong with some of them , however this method is less accepted with feminine gender perhaps from emotive issue.May be boys prefer the challenge than girls!
Old researchers are very respectful and very cooperative and helpful, middle age researchers are differently managed perhaps from competitions issue from career promotion, many of them are strongly misogynist, and plan to destruct the lady who is successful through another corrupted lady (or who they could corrupt by any professional advantage).
However all decision posts in research institutions and scientific councils are 99% men;
Howard, wow! I am jealous of your eloquence, articulacy and excellent command of the English language. Indeed we do come in contact with such behaviours, resulting from personal or self–serving agendas, competitiveness, professional insecurities or department politics which create problems and delay our advancement. However, we usually- and exclusively- confront this in our close academic circles, namely in our working environment, in our specific departments or faculties. I have never felt this with members of the academia in general or with members of other universities or academic networks such as ResearchGate.
Yes Fairuz, you are right. So I will reiterate here that in Greece--AS IS THE CASE INTERNATIONALLY (and specifically in western cultures)-- women in the academia teach more hours and engage in less research in contrast to their male counterparts. They constitute an invisible minority in decision-making committees: eg. the Presidents/Chairs of University Research Committees in Greece are 100% men. Research committee members are comprised of 90% men and only 10% women. Their male colleagues, over the age of 50, dominate in decision-making positions or on scientific committees that grant funds, scholarships, distinctions, and influence the orientation of scientific programs and projects.
Women in Greece--as is the case internationally-- also have limited access to male-dominated scientific networks that provide sources and funding for research, and subsequently they have limited opportunities for publications and advancement in the Academia. The General Secretariat for Research and Technology (GSRT), in order to investigate the position of women in scientific research in Greece, commissioned the National Centre for Social Research (EKKE) to conduct a study entitled ―the enhancement of the participation of Greek women in scientific research. Quantitative data coming from 50 public research institutions and research university institutes was included in the first database, according to which women‘s participation in scientific research is relatively limited: only 34, 7% out of the registered 3.221 researchers are women.
Note to Irene Kamberidou:
I am (genuinely) glad to hear that you inhabit a (rare) zone of uncoerced tranquility.
As for the rest, if there are skeletons, the prevailing norm is to ensure that they are kept securely under lock in our respective closets.
With regard to his venure, I am sure (having participated from time to time in a number of these "conversations") that the contributors to ResearchGate are almost always on their very best (sometimes even "courtly") behavior.
On the other hand, this morning I read some of Simon Goldhill's "Victorian Culture and Classical Antiquity" and I was reminded of a splendid line from Virgil: "parcare et subiectis et debellare superbos" (to spare the submissive and subdue the uppity"). That seems to be the preferred motto of the current managerial elite governing academic life in these unpleasant, uninspired and rather ugly neoliberal times.
In my time (a half-century ago), the usually rigorous, always vigorous and occasionally libelous debates among scholars gave tremendous life to academic affairs. Our influence may not have matched our rhetoric, but it was at least clear that we were prepared to engage the real-life (and sometimes life-or-death) issues of the day.
Today, under the corporate culture, open skirmishes are discouraged and all the fighting (all the more lethal for being hidden) is done behind closed doors. Dissenters are demolished or, worse, marginalized and kept as examples of "repressive tolerance" in their untenured ghettos of women's, aboriginal, postcolonial, postmodern studies or some other niche market for pseudo-revolutionary intellectual boutiques.
Meanwhile, the real debates about the purpose, policies and procedures of postsecondary education are mainly held among managers, marketers and the monstrous minions of mendacity who care not a whit for education and abhor anything akin to social criticism, but are eager to suppress the imaginations of young people entering an ever more unstable labor force and equipped with little but an education in submissiveness.
So, if I and others occasionally disturb the sensitivities of people unused to open combat, I do not really apologize ... for I know that anything distressing can be predismissed according to the morals, mores and manners of the day.
So it goes.
I must learn to proof-read before posting while at the same time begging ResearchGate to introduce an option to edit contributions for at least a few minutes after they are submitted.
Meanwhile, in the 3rd paragraph above, I meant "this venue" not "his venure,"
Howard, I wish, but unfortunately I do not inhabit a zone of uncoerced tranquility. As I am new to ResearchGate I need to be more careful not to be misunderstood...
I am into gender equality and I think you bring a great question into the table. Men are different from women and women are different from men. That is something we all need to understand. These differences may appear in different ways such as sensorial, emotional, mental and physical. My studies showed that women tend to be more organized and creative while men aim for a more authoritative approach. This brings me to your topic. Working with men and women is not the same as they tend to have different work patterns but this is where gender equality and justice should be promoted. The fact that women may be slower in, for example, physical jobs, doesn't mean they are not working smarter than men. Strenght is not necessarily smart. Also, women nowadays are getting much more qualified than men. That is a reality. So, in a way and I'm not trying to state my opinion as I believe every gender is great to work with provided that he/she does the job he/she was given. You just have to get to know the people you are working with. There are differences and some specific gendered traits but all in all this does not affect anything. If you give someone a specific task and he/she has the right qualifications and training for it, then he/she will make it. There may be time differences at first but I trully believe in the long run results will be quite similiar in gender terms.
Dear All, Lijo Francis, Patrick Low and others that you know are not able any longer to log in their RG account from yesterday. RG suspended their accounts without any reason. I don't know why, but I find this an outstanding abuse. Please help them and inform all other participants as this is a signal that things are not going in the right way in RG before it happens to you!
Regards
Gianni
Question toGiovanni Zurlini: Why were there accounts suspended? What does this mean? Did they get any warning??
Yes apparently their accounts have been suspended by RG. RG did not provide explanations for this. It is not clear if could be a bug or it was made intentionally. I wonder if this can happen to anyone of us according to their taste.
Ah yes, they did get warnings but RG did not explain the reasons why those warnings. If something it is not clear and transparent like should be a research network I do not like it at all. So, the probability that it is a bug is quite low.
I think that editors here in RG have too much power to decide who should be in and who out. They also decide which questions are allowed and which are not. Who are those editors, which training have they made to be such?How did they get that job and how have they been selected for this? I would like to apply for such a position to be one of them.....
What we need is transparency. There should be a code of ethics to be followed on RG and it must be published online!
I would like to work either with a male or a female but I really should avoid working with RG editors!
When i contribute to social questions i normally get more likes than when i introduce an answer to electrical engineering questions or natural sciences. This is simply because there are much more contributors here. Now, because i am an activist on the researchgate many colleagues became known for me and even invite me to share the answer with them. Sometimes i feel that some questions are very important and raise real problems that can be discussed in a public forum like the researchgate..
Some times i feel that most text we write reflecting our opinions is not read or taken seriously from the others. Sometimes i feel it is some sort of entertainment.,
I think most of the answers are controlled by the rules and standards of successful selection of the personnel for a research project or a job. To be successful you select the proper person irrespective of the gender. Assume now you have a male and female with equal capabilities and they can do the job in a professional manner which one you choose? Some people may prefer to benefit from the personal differences between the males and females. May be one relay on on his emotions to select one of the two genders. I my self would prefer the females provided they perform as the males.
This question is a questionnaire rather than a question. If it is made confidential the opinions may differ.
Thank you if you read contribution!
I have no problem with either. Much depends on the disposition of the person.
As a male anthropologist doing fieldwork in a Muslim community, or in any other community where the genders are strictly socially segregated I would like to cooperate with a female researcher, since she is more likely than me to get access to the female members of the community under study and to get their "story". It would be even better if we both were married. Unmarried couples in the role of researchers are less likely to get socially accepted in traditional Muslim communities
You are absolutely right. I have conducted research in this field (as a sociologist).
Rolf and Irene have rightly pointed the significance of cultural factors that cannot be overlooked.
Did the question imply that we need to get along with the researcher well to be able to work together ? I would say yes. If getting along together means someone of the opposite sex, then so be it. There are also many other factors which affect the relationship.
i think that being involved in a job or a work, do not matter the gender and sociocultural behavior of the teamwork. Which matter is the purpose of the work, its scheduling, the competencies of the teamwork and the availability of the needed tools. Each one much focus on the required results, the plan, the synchronization of the tasks and the procedures of the job. If someone couldn't follow the steps, he/she must improve her/his self or change the job, but not transfer her/his incompetency on gender or sociocultural features. The work is the work, affinities or not are outside it!!!
Interesting question. For me, the key elements of a good research partnership are complementary expertise, trust, good communication and the ability to productively resolve differences. To the extent that it is easier to find or establish these elements with someone of the same sex, then it is possible to find more research partnerships with scholars of the same gender.
A good researcher has independence of criteria without point of discrimination. The subjective factors such as emotions, sex, etc. are irrelevant and biased. The discrimination based on gender is unaceptable on the researcher's environment.
I agree with Rahil, I want to work with both because i will give me an general opinion base on both the genders.
True, diversity is vital, utilizing or taking advantage of the entire talent pool is required to meet today's challenges, financial crisis, etc.
I dont think it needs to be discussed. It is the matter of individual attitudes.
I agree in these ideal attitudes in the world of work but reality is stubborn. At the end there are fewer women in science in general when most people are women graduates. How is it possible? More than "personal" attitudes and ideals must meet knowledge structures that are power (Foucault dixit).
There is no such thing as an "individual attitude" in such matters. People's preferces matter as soon as they have practical consequences and these consequences have profound implications for the institutional culture and the policies and practices that are carried on within centres of higher learning. As I said before (with no apparent effect), what would be the reaction if we were to ask the question in terms of preferences for colleagues from different religious or ethnic groups. I have seen nothing in the previous posts that convinces me that it is an exercise in misogyny even to ask this question.
Beyond "political" policy, we must acknowledge the biological and psychological implications of same/inter-gender research. (ie. hormonal increases, "flirting" behaviors etc.) Regardless of our ideal "equality" preference, either a same, or inter gender combination of researchers will be more effective. The Question remains though, which?
Zack, accepting your premise does not mean there is a single Correct answer. Each researcher may prefer a different combination. I would accept as a scientist the thesis that if all outcomes could be measured, there may be a statistical difference in qualities from one combination or the other. Even then the measurement of 'quality' would be questionable, And by the way, nothing has been considered of Homosexual vs heterosexual, homosexual researchers may prefer Same sex or opposite sex co workers but with a 180° s bias! In the end I can't help but feel that answers represent mere personal opinion perhaps with cultural overtones.
As a researcher, I would work with anyone can help developing the research with me. The first thing that matters to me is the performance of the person and his/her readiness to commit her/himself to do it in the best way possible. The gender has never been a criterion to chose my co-researchers for. I looks an idealistic position but this is how I think and work.
Best
I am sure that I would like to work with Mr Howard, it would be very interesting!
My love!
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