From the perspective of women in science, reality resembles a mosaic interwoven with experiences, daily challenges and moments of success. We have asked four female researchers from our university to look at different aspects of this multicoloured landscape, i.e.: gender inequality in the academy, the lack of representation of women in decision-making and the balance between the role of a researcher and personal life. Although each of the female scientists walks the paths of different faculties at the University of Lodz, representing diverse fields of science, their voices sound surprisingly similar.
Below we present the statements of Dr Agata Zysiak (Faculty of Economics and Sociology, University of Lodz), Dr Marta Kucharska-Hauk (Faculty of Educational Sciences), Dr Izabela Stachowicz (Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection) and Dr Karolina Rudnicka, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz (Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection).
Dr Agata Zysiak deals with historical sociology. She works at the University of Lodz and the University of Vienna, where she works on understanding Poland's post-war history through the prism of the concept of socialist citizenship. She has had the pleasure of working at universities in Warsaw, Budapest, Vienna and Berlin, as well as in the USA – in Ann Arbor, Detroit and she was a member of the Institute for Advanced Studies in Princeton
Dr Marta Kucharska-Hauk is a Doctor of Social Sciences in Psychology. She is a trainer of psychosocial skills. She designs and implements training and didactic programmes as well as simulation games for children, adolescents and adults. She cooperates with public institutions and NGOs supporting them with psychological and coaching expertise. Dr Marta Kucharska-Hauk is a content co-developer of e-learning platforms.
Dr Izabela Stachowicz is a geobotanist, who works mainly in Venezuela. She studies the impact of human activities on the distribution and diversity of neotropical mammals. She has founded the Network of Conserved Areas in Venezuela to support private and social environmental initiatives by applying sustainable development principles to cocoa and coffee production and actively engaging the local community.
Dr Karolina Rudnicka, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz, is a biologist. Together with her team, she studies the beneficial and harmful effects of microorganisms, the biological safety of medical devices (bone implants) and the efficiency of bioactive ingredients in, for instance, dietary supplements and food. In 2024 she was conferred the title of Associate Professor as one of the youngest women at the University of Lodz.
What gender challenges do you experience in your academic work and do you think there are some gender inequalities in academia?
Dr Agata Zysiak: This is not a question of an opinion, at least from a social science point of view – it is a well-researched problem: yes, gender inequalities do exist, they shape our research, choices and career opportunities every day. Studies show the negative selection of women in science, the higher the higher the positions in the academy. Phrases such as the Matilda effect, the sticky floor and the glass ceiling have already passed into the sociological canon and they are all related to the difficulties experienced by women. In recent years, the pandemic has also reinforced these divisions: scientists have benefited from lockdown by publishing more, female scientists pushed into the home zone have started to publish less. This is not a question of a worldview, it is data about our world. Even the use of feminatives by people with such high cultural capital as academics is a problem.
Dr Agata Zysiak
Dr Marta Kucharska-Hauk: In my case, it is a huge challenge to combine academic work with motherhood. I'm a mum of an (almost) two-year-old and this is my first term at work after childcare leave, during which I obviously didn't do anything connected with science as that wasn't its purpose. Due to my absence, I 'fell out' of circulation and missed several scientific projects. Coming back with a clean slate when a periodic evaluation is coming up is very difficult and stressful, because, after all, scientific work takes time and there is also the publication cycle. This difficulty is more often experienced by women, as maternity leave cannot be waived and it is also customary for them to stay at home with the child longer. I am in a specific situation because my husband works in exactly the same position, at the same unit, so I have the opportunity to compare our experiences. In our case, the decision on the distribution of parental leave was conscious, collaborative and based on various factors. I was very keen to accompany my daughter at this developmentally strategic time (after all, I am scientifically involved in the mother-child bond:) at the same time, many women do not have such a choice and the costs we incur are enormous.
Dr Izabela Stachowicz: I will answer, perversely, if there were no gender inequalities in academia there would be no need for a Gender Equality Plan, which was introduced at the University in 2022 in line with the EU guidelines. Only two years ago... how long will it take for these rules to become the norm and not a set of guidelines enforced by a particular committee? And what is happening in the global South? In Latin America and the Caribbean, women make up less than 30% of all researchers in STEM. And equality plans in South America are only just at their beginning stage.
For me, field trips, especially to the Amazon or Los Llanos areas, are the biggest gender challenge. Local ethnic groups or small villagers expect a man who organises expeditions, takes care of logistics and arranges financial details. When asked: "And where is the boss?" I reply firmly “I’m the boss”. After a moment's consternation, we mostly manage to communicate, but I have to carry out all activities "wearing trousers", not only because of the mosquito bites.
Dr Izabela Stachowicz
Dr Karolina Rudnicka, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz: Associate Professor at the University of Lodz: I believe that frustration and its manifestations, like wisdom and empathy, have no gender. It should be underlined that academia is evolving in the right direction – it is becoming more flexible and beginning to recognise the virtues of diversity, including gender diversity. My personal experiences show that the men in science were not only supportive of my development, but also open to cooperation, based on mutual respect and recognition of competence. However, we should remember that I am also inspired and supported by women who have shown me how to overcome barriers and persevere towards my goals. The balance of benefits and losses resulting from numerous cooperations shows that the benefits definitely prevail. Although I also notice the drawbacks. The sense of power usually sharpens certain negative traits, including discrimination. In this sphere, I see a problem with the unequal treatment of women who have offspring and those who, for various reasons, do not have one. The demands on the latter group are often much higher. Interestingly, I observe this phenomenon much more often in female-female relationships. In my opinion, the second sphere that needs to be taken care of is ensuring equal access to, among other things, cultural and sports funding. In its current form, it is not equal for married couples and couples opting for informal relationships. The issue is complex and requires a search for solutions that comply with the law but are open to flexibility.
Summing up, respect and support in development should not be based on gender stereotypes – investing in the development of the right people always benefits the entire scientific community. The most important thing is education from the earliest years to the training of older people, especially in the workplace, about equality, diversity, choosing goals, seeking balance and mutual respect.
Do you perceive difficulties associated with your role as a scientist in combination with other roles in your private life or with duties typically assigned to women in our society?
Dr Agata Zysiak: Yes, of course I do. I would like to point out that as a scientist with two young children, I also see and receive a lot of support and solidarity on a daily basis. There is a growing awareness of gender inequalities, but there are also other important categories that differentiate our societies. Again: the data on this is unforgiving. To such an extent that the appearance of children may have a stabilising effect on the careers of fathers-scientists and destabilise the careers of mothers. In the social sciences and humanities, a research career is relatively slow to develop, it is not about discovery, but rather the accumulation of knowledge. Thus, its most intense moment is often in late motherhood and overlaps with the need to care for ageing parents, this is known as 'double care', and these caring roles are heavily gendered.
Dr Marta Kucharska-Hauk: Unfortunately, with the overload of roles and responsibilities of private life, compared to teaching and organisational activities, it is the academic work that is most easily postponed. A runny nose in a child who cannot go to nursery makes the whole elaborately laid plan fall apart like a house of cards. In addition, learning requires a certain continuity and 'immersion', so often nights, when the family is already asleep, constitute its greatest ally. If it is asleep...
Dr Marta Kucharska-Hauk
Dr Izabela Stachowicz: I will not say anything revealing: Motherhood is not conducive to an academic career. Although cosmetic improvements are being introduced in the EU and it is possible to include periods of maternity and parental leave in grant applications and academic evaluations, the number of publications, the H-index, citation rates or the number of grants received are taken into account for grants and promotions. All these indicators used to evaluate and compare researchers are affected during motherhood, because it is not just the first year after giving birth to a child, but a life-changing event, affecting the amount of available time devoted to work. The result? There are fewer and fewer women willing to give birth and conduct research, in our country too. When I asked employees of the University of Lodz Human resources last December for support in completing my maternity leave application, I was told that it had been a long time since anyone had asked for this....
A more radical change is needed to make indicators of scientific output practical for everyone, regardless of the scientific path one chooses, so that comparisons between researchers are fair and devoid of bias.
Dr Karolina Rudnicka, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz: Combining the role of scientist with other life roles is a challenge that requires both flexibility and an understanding of the environment. Societal expectations of women regarding their role in the family can further complicate this picture. In my case, the key to balance is the support of my beloved ones and colleagues who understand and respect the need for work-life balance, while believing that sometimes breaking that balance for a good cause brings benefits and growth. This multifaceted role requires both discipline and the ability to delegate tasks, but also demonstrates that academic success and personal satisfaction can complement each other.
Do you have experience of the lack of representation of women in key decisions or organisational structures in the scientific community?
Dr Agata Zysiak: Maybe it's a sociological perversion, but I always count the number of women in supervisory bodies, editorial committees but even in panels or workshops. In many of the environments I've worked in, it's unthinkable to organise an all-male panel. Finally, we have, as female researchers, a whole informal system of warning each other about 'slippery' people, people who are prejudiced, people who take advantage of their position – when talking about other researchers or institutions, an equally important piece of information next to the importance of someone's output or the quality of their work is often whether they are safe.
Dr Marta Kucharska-Hauk: I am a representative of a heavily feminised discipline, and therefore a study programme and a faculty where, for several years, I have been managed at all levels by women, so I do not experience this personally. On the other hand, I know from reports that despite the predominance of women at the university, globally leadership positions are predominantly held by men.
Dr Izabela Stachowicz: My long-term experience is mainly related to Venezuela, where the organisational structure in the scientific community is in a poor state and people willing to work and take responsibility are sought. Competition for academic positions is much less intense compared to the Western world, because who would want to earn US$300 a month?
Dr Karolina Rudnicka, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz: The lack of gender parity in key decisions and organisational structures is a problem that affects many sectors, including science. My experience is that, although progress is noticeable, there is still a long way to go before full equality is achieved, particularly at technical or medical universities. In a community (including academia) as in nature, the greater the diversity, the stronger and more stable the ecosystem (university) as a whole. It is important to continue to work towards gender equality in decision-making processes, which enriches perspectives and developments in science. The main challenge is a defined organisational culture, dialogue, listening to the needs of those working in the unit, seeking the right representation for them and taking into account multiple perspectives.
Dr Karolina Rudnicka, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz
According to the interviews, there are still many challenges to overcome in order to create a fully equal environment in science. We have therefore decided to continue this discussion in our next text, which we will publish on 8 March to mark Women's Day. The next publication will focus on gender equality initiatives at the University of Lodz. This will include activities such as, among other things, the Gender Equality Plan (GEP) Project and the work of the Gender Equality Board. This text will be the result of consultation with those involved in building equality processes at our university.
On Women and Girls in Science Day, we would like to appeal for support for all efforts towards gender equality in the world of science. May every woman have the opportunity to develop her talents and achieve success regardless of the obstacles society places in her way. Let's strive to create an open, supportive and inclusive environment where innovation and achievement are based on competence rather than gender.
Source: Dr Agata Zysiak (Faculty of Economics and Sociology, University of Lodz), Dr Marta Kucharska-Hauk (Faculty of Educational Sciences), Dr Izabela Stachowicz (Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection) and Dr Karolina Rudnicka, Associate Professor at the University of Lodz (Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection).
Photos: Dr Bartosz Kałużny and Maciej Andrzejewski, edited by Hanna Swaczyna (Communications and PR Centre, University of Lodz)
Edit: Michał Gruda and Honorata Ogieniewska (Communications and PR Centre, University of Lodz)
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