Gender analysis on the Ph.D. theses defended in Spain in the field of Optics and Photonics

Abstract

Unconscious perceptions and decisions are influenced by gender bias. In this work, we provide an exhaustive data analysis of the Ph.D. theses defended in the field of optics and photonics in Spain by filtering key descriptors and gender. Our results show a severe underrepresentation of women in the Ph.D. stage in the optics community, which becomes even more prominent in technological and theoretical domains. The gender gap is reduced in biomedical and visual optics. This asymmetry is a symptom of gender bias in science associated with traditional stereotypes about health and social care. Further studies and measures are required in specific areas of science to eradicate implicit gender-based associations in scientific disciplines.