How do women scientists perceive their own career development

Abstract

Examines the applicability of current career theory to women scientists. Data were collected from a group of New Zealand women scientists and interpreted using the Concept Mapping technique which produces a two‐dimensional visual map of the participants′ responses. The results show that the respondents see their own personal attributes and their organizational environment as equally important for their career development. They attribute success to internal qualities and do not perceive significant barriers to their career development from external sources. This finding is in conflict with many studies which show that women experience significant barriers to entry and barriers to participation, especially in professional fields. In the case of the science profession, however, women continue to be such a small minority of the workforce that survival may necessitate their adoption of the male values which inevitably dominate in their workplaces.