RSU study: in research, women are judged on results, men on potential
A study by Riga Stradiņš University found that opportunities in Latvian science are not equal between women and men. Women make up 55.1% of academic staff but remain less represented in leadership roles.
A study by Riga Stradiņš University (RSU) has shown that opportunities in Latvian science are not equal for women and men. According to the research, women in academia are assessed on their results, while men are assessed on their potential. The findings matter because science affects health, the environment, technology and everyday life, and who advances in the field helps shape how it develops.
Numbers and positions
Women account for 55.1% of academic staff in Latvian science, which is slightly more than half. Even so, they remain less represented in leadership positions than men. In other words, their share of the overall workforce is not reflected among those who hold senior roles in the field.
The question of objectivity
Science is commonly regarded as an objective and neutral space in which the most talented and hardworking people succeed. The RSU study challenges that view, pointing to unequal gender opportunities in research.
