Sparking Change: Advancing Gender Equity in the Science at the Smithsonian

A new report identifies workplace issues related to gender equity in the sciences and provides actionable recommendations to make the SI a safer, more equitable place to work for people of all genders.

The Smithsonian is committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, accessible, and inclusive organization in which everyone—regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, gender, sexuality, ability, religion, and other identities—has an opportunity to thrive.

The Institution’s American Women’s History Initiative (AWHI) funded the report Sparking Change: Advancing Gender Equity in the Sciences at the Smithsonian to identify workplace issues related to gender equity in the sciences and provide actionable recommendations to make the SI a safer, more equitable place to work for people of all genders. I am pleased to share the report’s Executive Summary and Recommendations with you.

Scientific literature and numerous reports from the National Academies document that women in STEM face myriad issues, including pay inequity, lack of recognition, and discrimination. Additionally, women often carry most of the responsibilities associated with family life, including caring for children, maintaining a household, and looking after family members in need. These issues are major contributors to the “leaky pipeline” which shows that while the number of women receiving academic degrees in STEM fields has been increasing over time, many women do not remain in or advance in STEM careers. As a research institution, the Smithsonian is not immune to these issues, which are most apparent in our science units.

​​​​​​​To explore gender inequities and solutions to overcome them broadly across science units, Smithsonian Organization and Audience Research (SOAR) worked with representatives from science units and the AWHI to conduct a first-ever survey of the entire Smithsonian scientific workforce on the topic of gender equity. The Report calls for changes to build an internal culture of equity across the Institution, not just the science units. Work is actively under way by the Office of the Head Diversity Officer, SI Civil, and other units to address the issues raised. They are also captured in the Secretary’s pan-institutional strategic initiative on diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion, which has concrete milestones and metrics to measure our progress on this important topic.

I encourage you to read the summary and recommendations as we work together to foster an inclusive workplace where all can thrive. If you have questions, please contact Deputy Diversity Officer Beth Ziebarth, ziebarth@si.edu.

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