Gender gaps in Argentine science: the unfixable leaky pipeline

Autores
Reyes, María Fernanda; Spirito, María Florencia; Lallement, Mailén Elizabeth; Meli, Paula; De Paepe, Josefina Luisa
Año de publicación
2025
Idioma
inglés
Tipo de recurso
artículo
Estado
versión publicada
Descripción
The metaphor of the leaky pipe captures the persistent loss of women in science, especially at senior levels. This article offers a collective reflection by women ecologists in Argentina, combining empirical data and lived experiences to examine how gender shapes scientific careers, practices, and institutions. Drawing on unstructured interviews with eight senior researchers in ecology, a national online survey across all career stages (PhD, postdoc, and seniors) researchers in ecology, biology, agronomy, and environmental sciences, and a 20-year analysis of ecology conference proceedings, we explore how precarious employment, caregiving responsibilities, and epistemic hierarchies affect scientific vocation, emotional well-being, and knowledge production. Our findings highlight how peer support and collective networks sustain early-career women researchers, while structural inequalities, traditional evaluation systems, and recent austerity measures intensify exclusion. We show how dominant cognitive biases shape research agendas, reinforcing the marginalization of alternative knowledge systems. In this context, pursuing a scientific career becomes an act of resistance. We argue that addressing gender inequalities requires more than individual resilience; it demands a structural transformation, with inclusive evaluation criteria, equitable parental leave, career path expansion, and recognition of diverse epistemologies. Finally, we hope to contribute to reimagining ecological science not only as a space for knowledge production, but also as one based on justice, care, and collective belonging.
Fil: Reyes, María Fernanda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Tierras, Agua y Medio Ambiente;
Fil: Spirito, María Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; Argentina. Universidad de La Frontera; Chile
Fil: Lallement, Mailén Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Tierras, Agua y Medio Ambiente;
Fil: Meli, Paula. Universidad de Concepción; Chile. International Foundation for Ecosystem Restoration; Argentina
Fil: De Paepe, Josefina Luisa. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina
Materia
GENDER GAP
SCIENCE
ARGENTINA
LEAKY PIPELINE
Nivel de accesibilidad
acceso abierto
Condiciones de uso
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
Repositorio
CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Institución
Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
OAI Identificador
oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/277181
Acceder
id CONICETDig_e4639cf38bc495e2412a4d8cddacc6ea
oai_identifier_str oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/277181
network_acronym_str CONICETDig
repository_id_str 3498
network_name_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
spelling Gender gaps in Argentine science: the unfixable leaky pipelineReyes, María FernandaSpirito, María FlorenciaLallement, Mailén ElizabethMeli, PaulaDe Paepe, Josefina LuisaGENDER GAPSCIENCEARGENTINALEAKY PIPELINEhttps://purl.org/becyt/ford/5.4https://purl.org/becyt/ford/5The metaphor of the leaky pipe captures the persistent loss of women in science, especially at senior levels. This article offers a collective reflection by women ecologists in Argentina, combining empirical data and lived experiences to examine how gender shapes scientific careers, practices, and institutions. Drawing on unstructured interviews with eight senior researchers in ecology, a national online survey across all career stages (PhD, postdoc, and seniors) researchers in ecology, biology, agronomy, and environmental sciences, and a 20-year analysis of ecology conference proceedings, we explore how precarious employment, caregiving responsibilities, and epistemic hierarchies affect scientific vocation, emotional well-being, and knowledge production. Our findings highlight how peer support and collective networks sustain early-career women researchers, while structural inequalities, traditional evaluation systems, and recent austerity measures intensify exclusion. We show how dominant cognitive biases shape research agendas, reinforcing the marginalization of alternative knowledge systems. In this context, pursuing a scientific career becomes an act of resistance. We argue that addressing gender inequalities requires more than individual resilience; it demands a structural transformation, with inclusive evaluation criteria, equitable parental leave, career path expansion, and recognition of diverse epistemologies. Finally, we hope to contribute to reimagining ecological science not only as a space for knowledge production, but also as one based on justice, care, and collective belonging.Fil: Reyes, María Fernanda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Tierras, Agua y Medio Ambiente;Fil: Spirito, María Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; Argentina. Universidad de La Frontera; ChileFil: Lallement, Mailén Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Tierras, Agua y Medio Ambiente;Fil: Meli, Paula. Universidad de Concepción; Chile. International Foundation for Ecosystem Restoration; ArgentinaFil: De Paepe, Josefina Luisa. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; ArgentinaAcademia2025-09info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionhttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501info:ar-repo/semantics/articuloapplication/pdfapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/11336/277181Reyes, María Fernanda; Spirito, María Florencia; Lallement, Mailén Elizabeth; Meli, Paula; De Paepe, Josefina Luisa; Gender gaps in Argentine science: the unfixable leaky pipeline; Academia; Academia Environmental Sciences and Sustainability; 2; 3; 9-2025; 1-72997-6006CONICET DigitalCONICETenginfo:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.20935/AcadEnvSci7863info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas2025-12-23T14:20:19Zoai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/277181instacron:CONICETInstitucionalhttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/Organismo científico-tecnológicoNo correspondehttp://ri.conicet.gov.ar/oai/requestdasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.arArgentinaNo correspondeNo correspondeNo correspondeopendoar:34982025-12-23 14:20:19.766CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicasfalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Gender gaps in Argentine science: the unfixable leaky pipeline
title Gender gaps in Argentine science: the unfixable leaky pipeline
spellingShingle Gender gaps in Argentine science: the unfixable leaky pipeline
Reyes, María Fernanda
GENDER GAP
SCIENCE
ARGENTINA
LEAKY PIPELINE
title_short Gender gaps in Argentine science: the unfixable leaky pipeline
title_full Gender gaps in Argentine science: the unfixable leaky pipeline
title_fullStr Gender gaps in Argentine science: the unfixable leaky pipeline
title_full_unstemmed Gender gaps in Argentine science: the unfixable leaky pipeline
title_sort Gender gaps in Argentine science: the unfixable leaky pipeline
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Reyes, María Fernanda
Spirito, María Florencia
Lallement, Mailén Elizabeth
Meli, Paula
De Paepe, Josefina Luisa
author Reyes, María Fernanda
author_facet Reyes, María Fernanda
Spirito, María Florencia
Lallement, Mailén Elizabeth
Meli, Paula
De Paepe, Josefina Luisa
author_role author
author2 Spirito, María Florencia
Lallement, Mailén Elizabeth
Meli, Paula
De Paepe, Josefina Luisa
author2_role author
author
author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv GENDER GAP
SCIENCE
ARGENTINA
LEAKY PIPELINE
topic GENDER GAP
SCIENCE
ARGENTINA
LEAKY PIPELINE
purl_subject.fl_str_mv https://purl.org/becyt/ford/5.4
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/5
dc.description.none.fl_txt_mv The metaphor of the leaky pipe captures the persistent loss of women in science, especially at senior levels. This article offers a collective reflection by women ecologists in Argentina, combining empirical data and lived experiences to examine how gender shapes scientific careers, practices, and institutions. Drawing on unstructured interviews with eight senior researchers in ecology, a national online survey across all career stages (PhD, postdoc, and seniors) researchers in ecology, biology, agronomy, and environmental sciences, and a 20-year analysis of ecology conference proceedings, we explore how precarious employment, caregiving responsibilities, and epistemic hierarchies affect scientific vocation, emotional well-being, and knowledge production. Our findings highlight how peer support and collective networks sustain early-career women researchers, while structural inequalities, traditional evaluation systems, and recent austerity measures intensify exclusion. We show how dominant cognitive biases shape research agendas, reinforcing the marginalization of alternative knowledge systems. In this context, pursuing a scientific career becomes an act of resistance. We argue that addressing gender inequalities requires more than individual resilience; it demands a structural transformation, with inclusive evaluation criteria, equitable parental leave, career path expansion, and recognition of diverse epistemologies. Finally, we hope to contribute to reimagining ecological science not only as a space for knowledge production, but also as one based on justice, care, and collective belonging.
Fil: Reyes, María Fernanda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Tierras, Agua y Medio Ambiente;
Fil: Spirito, María Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; Argentina. Universidad de La Frontera; Chile
Fil: Lallement, Mailén Elizabeth. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias. Instituto de Tierras, Agua y Medio Ambiente;
Fil: Meli, Paula. Universidad de Concepción; Chile. International Foundation for Ecosystem Restoration; Argentina
Fil: De Paepe, Josefina Luisa. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía; Argentina
description The metaphor of the leaky pipe captures the persistent loss of women in science, especially at senior levels. This article offers a collective reflection by women ecologists in Argentina, combining empirical data and lived experiences to examine how gender shapes scientific careers, practices, and institutions. Drawing on unstructured interviews with eight senior researchers in ecology, a national online survey across all career stages (PhD, postdoc, and seniors) researchers in ecology, biology, agronomy, and environmental sciences, and a 20-year analysis of ecology conference proceedings, we explore how precarious employment, caregiving responsibilities, and epistemic hierarchies affect scientific vocation, emotional well-being, and knowledge production. Our findings highlight how peer support and collective networks sustain early-career women researchers, while structural inequalities, traditional evaluation systems, and recent austerity measures intensify exclusion. We show how dominant cognitive biases shape research agendas, reinforcing the marginalization of alternative knowledge systems. In this context, pursuing a scientific career becomes an act of resistance. We argue that addressing gender inequalities requires more than individual resilience; it demands a structural transformation, with inclusive evaluation criteria, equitable parental leave, career path expansion, and recognition of diverse epistemologies. Finally, we hope to contribute to reimagining ecological science not only as a space for knowledge production, but also as one based on justice, care, and collective belonging.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025-09
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501
info:ar-repo/semantics/articulo
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/11336/277181
Reyes, María Fernanda; Spirito, María Florencia; Lallement, Mailén Elizabeth; Meli, Paula; De Paepe, Josefina Luisa; Gender gaps in Argentine science: the unfixable leaky pipeline; Academia; Academia Environmental Sciences and Sustainability; 2; 3; 9-2025; 1-7
2997-6006
CONICET Digital
CONICET
url http://hdl.handle.net/11336/277181
identifier_str_mv Reyes, María Fernanda; Spirito, María Florencia; Lallement, Mailén Elizabeth; Meli, Paula; De Paepe, Josefina Luisa; Gender gaps in Argentine science: the unfixable leaky pipeline; Academia; Academia Environmental Sciences and Sustainability; 2; 3; 9-2025; 1-7
2997-6006
CONICET Digital
CONICET
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv eng
language eng
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.20935/AcadEnvSci7863
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/ar/
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Academia
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Academia
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
reponame_str CONICET Digital (CONICET)
collection CONICET Digital (CONICET)
instname_str Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.name.fl_str_mv CONICET Digital (CONICET) - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
repository.mail.fl_str_mv dasensio@conicet.gov.ar; lcarlino@conicet.gov.ar
_version_ 1852335627469586432
score 12.952241

Publicaciones similares