Women In Science: Stemming The Tide Of Gender Inequality
Scuba Diver|Issue 01-2017 (107)

“Queen of the Mantas” Andrea Marshall shares powerful insights into the subtle challenges facing women in the sciences.

Dr Andrea Marshall
Women In Science: Stemming The Tide Of Gender Inequality

Gender-related topics almost invariably come up when I talk about my work as a scientist. Conversations that start about my work with manta rays always seem to circle around to probing questions about the challenges of being a female researcher. I find people’s interest in this subject perplexing. Sure, being a field researcher is hard… but what does being a woman have to do with that? I fight the same defensive feeling when I see eyebrows raise upon learning that I am the CEO of an international conservation organisation... like for a moment they find this fact hard to believe. Have we seriously not moved past this?

While this line of questioning can sometimes get a bit tedious, I have started to reconcile myself to the fact that this issue is indeed important and worthy of addressing. The main reason for this conclusion is the hundreds, maybe thousands, of young girls that have contacted me throughout my career looking for advice – girls who see me as a role model, that aspire to have a career like mine, or that want to work in the field like I do; young women of all ages that are looking for recommendations or for advice; ones needing to hear first-hand that they can make it. Sometimes I can tell that they are looking to reassure themselves; others are looking for ways to assuage the fears of their family or friends. Strangely, I never get these kinds of letters/e-mail/questions from boys. Is that because I am not a role model for them, despite being an authority in my field? Or is it rather because they do not have the same reservations that young girls do. Logic tells me it is the latter and I see evidence all the time that young girls are somehow less confident about career paths in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) fields than young boys.

Denne historien er fra Issue 01-2017 (107)-utgaven av Scuba Diver.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra Issue 01-2017 (107)-utgaven av Scuba Diver.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA SCUBA DIVERSe alt
The Making Of A World Record-Breaking Diver
Scuba Diver

The Making Of A World Record-Breaking Diver

Descending more than 300 metres into the depths of the ocean may sound like a daunting prospect to even the most seasoned diver. But to one man, it was just another a challenge that he set for himself to see how far he was able to push the envelope.

time-read
6 mins  |
Issue 05 - 2020(119)
Risk Mitigation: Hose Failure
Scuba Diver

Risk Mitigation: Hose Failure

An unexpected outcome

time-read
3 mins  |
Issue 05 - 2020(119)
Top 10 Wrecks Of Asia-Pacific
Scuba Diver

Top 10 Wrecks Of Asia-Pacific

We present a curated list of the top 10 most famous wrecks found in the Asia-Pacific region, listed in no particular order

time-read
3 mins  |
Issue 05 - 2020(119)
From The Medical Line: Diving After DCS
Scuba Diver

From The Medical Line: Diving After DCS

DAN medical information specaialists and researchers answer your dive medicine questions

time-read
4 mins  |
Issue 05 - 2020(119)
Cave Exploration: Beginning With The End In Mind
Scuba Diver

Cave Exploration: Beginning With The End In Mind

Building complex adventures on simple skills

time-read
9 mins  |
Issue 05 - 2020(119)
Dive Slate: Stay Safe On Board
Scuba Diver

Dive Slate: Stay Safe On Board

When preparing for a dive, safety is at the top of the list – checking gear, learning potential site hazards and discussing procedures with your divemaster or buddy.

time-read
1 min  |
Issue 05 - 2020(119)
101 Tips On Becoming A Better Tek Diver
Scuba Diver

101 Tips On Becoming A Better Tek Diver

Technical diving takes divers beyond the typical recreational scuba diving limits, opening up many new and exciting possibilities.

time-read
10+ mins  |
Issue 05 - 2020(119)
TECHNICAL DIVING TIMELINE (1660–1999)
Scuba Diver

TECHNICAL DIVING TIMELINE (1660–1999)

It’s fair to say that the emergence of “technical diving” in the late 1980s, that is, the introduction of mixed gas technology, and later mixed gas rebreathers to the sport diving community, represented the culmination of hundreds of years of scientific discovery and technological development.

time-read
10+ mins  |
Issue 05 - 2020(119)
FLYING AFTER DIVING
Scuba Diver

FLYING AFTER DIVING

From the Safety Stop

time-read
2 mins  |
Issue 05 - 2020(119)
DIAGNOSING DECOMPRESSION ILLNESS
Scuba Diver

DIAGNOSING DECOMPRESSION ILLNESS

Incident Insight

time-read
3 mins  |
Issue 05 - 2020(119)