Women in Physics and Astronomy 2005

The report shows that the percentage of women holding faculty positions in physics and astronomy is consistent with the percentage of women who earned degrees in the past. Currently, the percentages of women entering physics and other sciences are increasing, but fewer women are entering physics than other fields. However, some physics departments award higher than average percentages of degrees to women, and the report lists these, along with PhD physics departments that have four or more women on faculty. In spite of the progress made by women, there are still problems, including salary differences and the dearth of minority women in physics and astronomy. Women’s participation in physics varies historically and across countries, pointing to the influence of cultural factors on women’s rate of participation in science.