The internationally acknowledged gender gap in science continues to be an unrelenting concern to science educators; aggregate data in the UK show that both recruitment and retention of women in academic science remain relatively low. Most published research focuses on women in the broad field of science, generates correlations or predictions, or examines the reasons why women do not participate in fields like physics or engineering. Previous work has not yet addressed how women have found ways to succeed in particular fields, such as chemistry, or how successful pathways may be applied to recruitment and retention efforts in those fields. This study investigated the experiences of successful British female chemists, in order to uncover coping mechanisms and commonalities that may illuminate obstacles and solutions particular to women in chemistry. Four case study semi-structured life history interviews with highly successful British female chemists revealed common experiences that helped the women in the study to succeed. Of these, two resonated with the literature: having an integrated support network, and the ability to cope with financial and career instability; choice of subfield and adaptation of (unconscious) bias are offered as new insights. The findings suggest changes in policy and practice that would provide particular kinds of support for women in chemistry at school and university level. Implementing these changes may be the impetus needed to approach gender parity in UK academic chemistry from undergraduate to Professor.

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在学术化学中实现性别平等：从英国成功的女化学家那里汲取的教训

国际上公认的科学领域的性别差距仍然是科学教育工作者不懈的关注。英国的汇总数据显示，女性在学术科学领域的招聘和留任率仍然相对较低。多数已发表的研究集中于广泛科学领域中的女性，产生相关性或预测，或研究女性不参与物理或工程学等领域的原因。以前的工作尚未解决妇女如何在化学等特定领域找到成功的方法，或者如何将成功的途径应用于这些领域的征聘和保留工作。这项研究调查了成功的英国女化学家的经验，以发现应对机制和共性，这可能会阐明化学领域中女性所特有的障碍和解决方案。通过对成功的英国女化学家进行的四次案例研究半结构化的生活史访谈，揭示了有助于研究中的女性成功的共同经验。其中，有两个与文献相呼应：拥有一个综合的支持网络，以及应对财务和职业不稳定的能力；子领域的选择和（无意识的）偏见的适应提供了新的见解。调查结果表明政策和实践的变化将为妇女在学校和大学层面的化学研究提供特殊种类的支持。实施这些变革可能是推动从本科到教授的英国学术化学领域实现性别均等的动力。