In a survey taken of over 4,000 scientists across the globe, 70% of whom were men, researchers found that people consider science a “family unfriendly” career.
The survey itself (PDF), conducted by the Association for Women in Science, summarizes the findings like this:
Attracting workers into science and technology fields could be hampered by work-life integration issues according to a new international survey. Drawing data from 4,225 publishing scientists and researchers worldwide, the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) finds that lack of flexibility in the workplace, dissatisfaction with career development opportunities, and low salaries are driving both men and women to re-consider their profession.
I haven’t looked at the details, so I don’t have anything to say about the methodology, nor can I really say say anything about job satisfaction in science relative to other professional careers. And glancing at the survey, the results don’t really seem to justify the negative commentary.
But I’d say AWIS has pretty much summed up much of my dissatisfaction: surprisingly bad career development opportunities and low salaries. I’d add to that the related issue very long period of financial and career instability that occurs during a so-called ‘training period.’ You put in 10+ years of work in temporary grad student and postdoc positions at exploitative pay levels, after which you make a go at the faculty position crapshoot or find entry level positions that may, if you’re lucky, involve doing actual science; if you’re unlucky you end up merely as a set of technical hands for someone else, or as a highly-trained customer service rep.
Compare that to other professional careers (law, dentistry, HR, business administration…), in which you would have, over the same 10+ year time period, managed to make substantial progress towards achieving partnership, senior management, etc. while getting paid significantly more than a grad student or postdoc.
It’s not hard to see how the inferior, more unpredictable career development path in science would make family life more difficult. On the other hand, when you are doing good science, and things are going well, this is pretty damn fine business to be in.
The Finch and Pea 