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67% Europeans think that women do not have enough capacities for high scientific positions

Fondation L'Oréal has conducted international research into the causes of inequality women face in science and the limitations they face in their professional careers. The survey reveals that 67% of Europeans believe that women do not have the required capabilities to hold high-level scientific positions. Only 10% of the respondents think that women actually have the capabilities for science. Women are said to have the following shortcomings:too little perseverance, logical thinking, practical thinking, sharpness, scientific thinking and analytical thinking.

When asked whether they could name well-known scientists, regardless of gender, 71% of those surveyed mentioned a male name and 33% a female name, with Marie Curie being the only woman they could think of in France. Society is aware of the limitations women face in science and hinder their development:49% think women are inhibited by cultural factors, 43% think they are inhibited by men and 40% think they are were inhibited by their management. Many more Europeans, namely 59%, believe that the increase of women in scientific positions is going too slowly:from 26% in 2000 to only 29% in 2010.
In terms of the percentage of scientific Nobel Prizes awarded of women – only 3% – 63% would like this to change to a 50/50 split.