From an early age, girls may receive less encouragement than boys to pursue research careers. Stereotypes about what is considered masculine or feminine can negatively impact their self-efficacy—their confidence in their abilities. Many internalize the belief that science is more suited to men, which undermines their self-confidence.

These are the findings of the "Gender Scan", a biennial survey conducted since 2016 by UNESCO in collaboration with Global Contact, aimed at examining the factors that influence gender equality in research. The Gender Scan stands out for its approach: it collects responses from adolescents to established professionals, allowing for an analysis that spans both educational and professional pathways. This provides a longitudinal view of common themes and challenges over time.

According to 2023 Eurostat data, many women drop out of research before completing their academic path. A lack of support from parents, teachers, and peers contributes to this phenomenon, with the absence of female role models and a professional environment often perceived as unwelcoming. A 2023 study published in the Journal of Human Resources highlights how the lack of female figures to look up to in research environments can influence university students' choice to pursue and complete research careers.

Using a randomized tutor assignment, researchers demonstrated that having a female tutor, rather than a male one, significantly increases the likelihood of female students enrolling in research programs and completing their degrees. However, in many fields, women remain underrepresented among faculty, particularly in leadership positions.

“A few years ago, an academic meeting on women in legal research was held at Sapienza University of Rome, and the data presented showed that only 24.8% of full professors in 2018 were women. This figure has not changed significantly in recent years,” says Chiara Cerbone, a research fellow at the Department of Law, Political and International Studies at the University of Parma.

“I don’t believe in the narrative of ‘gender leadership,’ but I think having role models is very useful, especially considering that an academic career is already complex. More women in top positions could impact career opportunities by ensuring their needs are better recognized and supported. I am thinking, for example, of policies that support motherhood, as in Italy, childcare still seems to be primarily a mother's responsibility,” Cerbone continues.

But this is not the case everywhere. In some research fields, the opposite is true. This is the case in psychology, where historically there has been a higher female representation. "The inverse stereotype is still problematic," says Maria Elide Vanutelli, a researcher at the Department of Psychology at the University of Milano-Bicocca.

“Men are still seen as detached from emotions, which is a problem. It’s fine for a woman to study emotions, if she conducts research, it’s acceptable. The final decision still tends to fall to men when it comes to driving change in the field. It is an issue for everyone, especially within a discipline that deals precisely with individual differences, listening, and inclusiveness. In my department, we have a lot of ordinary female teachers, who also hold important positions and are inspirational. However, this is not the case everywhere. The amount of funding obtained and the number of citations are higher for men. In academia, citations are fundamental because it’s a bibliometric world. The well-known H-index rules everything. If no one cites me, my career stalls.”

Scientific collaborations, which are crucial for academic progress, often put young female researchers at a disadvantage. Women tend to have fewer co-authors over the course of their careers. This issue is highlighted in a Cornell University study. According to this research, the main cause of gender disparities is not the lower number of women in research, nor their delayed entry into academic networking systems, but rather the very structure of these networks. Specifically, the issue lies in the dynamics of collaboration, creating a cumulative disadvantage for women over time. This challenges the assumption that increasing the number of women in academia will resolve gender inequalities.

Other research fields experience less clear-cut gender dynamics. “Agricultural research is mostly male-dominated, but if you shift towards 'food studies,' everything changes,” says Sabrina Arcuri, a researcher at the Department of Agriculture, Food, and Environment (DAFE) at the University of Pisa.

“During my PhD, I studied food and poverty, and the field was entirely female. During conferences, I remember the discouragement when people realized we were mostly women. Diet, nutrition, and caregiving are still considered more ‘feminine’ topics. My specific field, agricultural economics, is very male-dominated, but even so, I don’t see major differences in treatment. Most full professors are men, but my research group (PAGE) is very aware of these issues and is particularly attentive, even preferring to involve women in key moments of representation. It’s not a ‘pink quota’ approach—it’s more about care and attention. However, there’s still progress to be made. Abroad, all-male panels are practically unheard of, but in Italy, they unfortunately still happen.”

Having a research environment shaped predominantly by men has had significant side effects over time, impacting the outcomes of scientific studies. One such example is gender medicine: how biological differences (defined by sex) and socio-economic and cultural factors (gender-based) influence individual health and disease outcomes.

“In my field of studies, women are prevalent.” Underlines Dana El Masri PhD candidate at the Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine of the University of Pavia. “My research group, predominantly composed of women, is focused on a crucial area: the first 1,000 days of life, from conception to a child’s second birthday. This period has a profound impact on both maternal and child health, yet it has often been overlooked in medical research, which has traditionally been male-centered. By addressing the specific needs of women during this window, we aim to bridge the knowledge gap, particularly around maternal health, and contribute to a more inclusive, equitable approach to science. Our department at the University of Pavia is committed to advancing this field and improving maternal and child health through dedicated research. ”