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.
