Women Dropping Out of Science Careers

[Liberal_in_LA]

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=5227334&page=1

Women Dropping Out of Science Careers
Studies Look at Complex Reasons Behind Exodus of Women From Science
By ASHLEY PHILLIPS
June 24, 2008

RSS Even as nearly equal amounts of men and women pursue graduate degrees in science, recent studies point to a troubling trend: A significant number of women are dropping out of the field — both in the private sector and academia — in their 30s and 40s.

(Getty Images)According to a new study by the Center for Work-Life Policy and sponsored by a host of technology companies, 52 percent of women in private-sector science and technology jobs drop out without returning, a vast majority between the ages of 35 to 44

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"The top two reasons why women leave are the hostile macho cultures — the hard hat culture of engineering, the geek culture of technology or the lab culture of science … and extreme work pressures," she said.

Sherbin describes "extreme work pressures" as the increasing demand to put in longer and longer days and face time at the office.