Does the Gender Ratio on PF Reflect the Wider Physics Community?

[kered rettop]

Just out of curiosity, has anyone tried to find out whether the male/female/other ratio here is similar to that in the general physics community?
It seems to me that everyone I've engaged with on PF is male!

Food for thought?

 

[BillTre]

As a biologist who hangs out at PF, what is the male/female/other ration in the physics world?

In the biological world, I think the male/female ration is close to 1:1. The other fraction is unknown to me.

 

[pines-demon]

About 13% of the last authors in physics papers are women according to this https://physicsworld.com/a/gender-gap-in-physics-amongst-highest-in-science/
For the percentage of students and graduate students in universities it can go up to 20 to 30% depending on the degree.

 

[Vanadium 50]

This looks like it falls into the category of "here's a big job that someone else can do for me."

Some things worth thinking about:

• How do you know the sex of the poster? Maybe you can guess by the user name, maybe you can't.
• Why do you think PF should match the demographics of professional physicists?

 

[Nugatory]

Constructing a poll isn't that difficult and I expect that OP would be up for that.

Speaking for myself, I am at least somewhat curious to see how much the PF demographics match that of publishing physicists.

I do have some concern about the accuracy of any data we might gather though. It is a sad fact that many many women (less so here than on less strictly moderated sites - I hope) conceal their gender online.

 

[kered rettop]

Constructing a poll isn't that difficult and I expect that OP would be up for that.

Speaking for myself, I am at least somewhat curious to see how much the PF demographics match that of publishing physicists.

I do have some concern about the accuracy of any data we might gather though. It is a sad fact that many many women (less so here than on less strictly moderated sites - I hope) conceal their gender online.

Good idea. I would have thought that the machinery of a poll would ensure anonymity. Maybe check with Greg? But how would one compensate for self-selection - perhaps men have a greater or lesser tendency to answer polls? Ooh, I know! Let's make the poll compulsory!