Women in Science Now: Stories and Strategies for Achieving Equity

This first engaging and consequential book for science writer Munoz summarizes recent research and public conversations about the challenges women scientists still face. Organized around issues of mentorship, recruitment, visibility, work culture, and more, each chapter contains interviews with women about their experiences and research on gender bias in STEM. Particular attention is given to women of color and the significant barriers to their success. Concepts such as the Matilda effect (the bias against acknowledging women scientists’ contributions), social role theory, and imposter syndrome are explained here through the work of women social psychologists. Munoz proposes solutions that don’t attempt to affect the behavior of underrepresented groups but instead try to change institutions, systems, and societal values. Pro tips from each chapter are listed at the end, which provide immediate, research-based interventions.