1 / 8

Issues for Underrepresented Groups

This workshop, led by Associate Professor Iris Bahar from Brown University, discusses critical issues faced by underrepresented groups in academia. It highlights universal challenges, such as implicit bias, feelings of isolation, and the struggle to balance work and family, particularly for women. The session emphasizes the importance of mentorship, networking, and support systems to improve academic environments. Attendees are encouraged to seek mentors, join peer groups, and contribute to their communities while navigating the academic landscape to succeed in their fields.

adam-monroe
Download Presentation

Issues for Underrepresented Groups

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Issues for Underrepresented Groups Iris Bahar Associate Professor, Brown University DAC Young Faculty Workshop --- July 27, 2009

  2. Disclaimer • Many of the issues I mention are not necessarily specific to underrepresented groups • These are somewhat universal issues, but may have special relevance to these groups • Also, my views are somewhat biased by my own experiences and “grouping” • Your mileage may vary…

  3. Evaluating Your Success • We are our harshest critics • To be good, we have to be better than others outside our group • Both men and women consistently overrate men and underrate women in job qualifications

  4. Isolation • It’s hard to be the only women/minority in your research group • Hard to relate to others • Hard for others to relate to you • Feelings that you may be judged differently than others • Implicit bias: People are most comfortable with people who think and look like themselves

  5. Other “Barriers” to Entering Academia • Women: • The biological clock vs. the tenure clock • Productivity may plummet when you can least afford it • Balancing work and family duties • Financial pressures • Do you have to do a postdoc before entering academia? • Industry usually pays more (at least initially) • Geographic constraints

  6. Improving Your Environment • Find a mentor • Your department head may help you find one • May be useful to have more than one • Be a mentor • Being a role model to others in your minority group can be personally very rewarding • Get involved in extracurricular hobbies/organizations

  7. Improving Your Environment (cont.) • Join a peer group • Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers • Non-tenured women in physical science • Reduces isolation, increases networking

  8. Improving Your Environment (cont.) • Avoid “negative role models” • Not everyone needs to be singly obsessed about his/her work to be a successful academic • Seek out help at the University level • Is your university an NSF ADVANCE institution? • ADVANCE: develop systemic approaches to increase the representation and advancement of women in academic science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)

More Related