Cracked, but still there: the glass ceiling persists for senior women in science

"I've achieved all this while flying nearly every 'red flag' that people say is antithetical to a successful academic career. I am a woman, am young-ish for an academic, have three children (now aged 9, 12 and 14), have moved internationally for my education and career, have worked in industry and now work in interdisciplinary research."

"In my career, and to my surprise, I have learnt that success does not overcome bias. Women are doubted until they overdeliver. Women in leadership positions are doubted even beyond that."

"Discrimination or bias in academia is like a slow stream, a mild but persistent undercurrent that erodes your professional armour, confidence and motivation. In my experience, and that of many female colleagues, bias can hide in accusations such as 'lacking empathy', displaying a 'different leadership style'."

A female full professor at Wageningen University and Chief Scientific Advisor to the European Commission reflects on her successful academic career despite possessing characteristics traditionally considered obstacles: being a woman, relatively young, having three children, working interdisciplinarily, and having industry experience. Despite substantial achievements including major grants, publications, international collaborations, and mentoring successful trainees, she continues experiencing bias and discrimination. The author argues that while overt discrimination may have diminished, systemic barriers persist through subtle mechanisms. Women face continuous pressure to overdeliver to gain authority and trust, while men with similar profiles receive automatic credibility. This persistent undercurrent of bias erodes professional confidence and motivation, manifesting through accusations of lacking empathy or displaying different leadership styles.

Read at Nature