"The problem that won't go away": Femininity, motherhood and science.

Despite second wave feminist campaigns like 'Girls can do anything' women scientists still find that juggling career expectations with family responsibilities presents a major barrier to their full participation. History shows that scientific values and culture have been created by and for men and that women and minority groups are expected to fit in with pre-existing norms; separation of personal and professional lives should be maintained. Drawing on auto/biographies, a review of feminist science studies literature and oral history interviews with women scientists in Aotearoa/ New Zealand this paper shows that femininity and science have invariably been viewed as mutually exclusive and that the 'two body problem' is one that just 'won't go away'. Interviews reveal that women who 'succeed' as scientists are either childfree or have someone who is prepared to share family responsibilities. For most women in science, and increasingly men too, there is a continual challenge between balancing quality of life with career success. Obsolete gender norms are now commonly rejected by involved mothers and fathers, both of whom crave family-friendly policies that do not penalize them for 'doing too much childcare'. Mentoring, leadership programmes, affirmative action and work/family balance have limited utility. If true equity is to be achieved, then fathers need to share family responsibilities equally and the culture of science must change to accommodate diversity. The spotlight needs to be removed from women and focused instead on transforming science culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]