Language
English (en)
Prize Year
2025
Document Type
Unrestricted
Abstract
Examining the gender gap in physics through looking at physics’ reliance on “physical intuition” and how it impacts women in physics. Among STEM disciplines, physics stands out for its persistent and striking gender imbalance. While gender disparities exist across all science fields, physics consistently reports some of the lowest levels of female participation. According to a 2017-2021 study by the American Physical Society, only 23% of bachelor’s degrees were awarded to women, in stark contrast to 42% in math, 52% in chemistry, and 64% in biological sciences. This sharp divide highlights how physics remains uniquely gendered, even within the broader context of male dominated fields. While the gender gap in physics is widely acknowledged, its underlying causes are less rigorously proven and agreed upon.
Recommended Citation
Johnson, Camille, "Can You Hear the Music? Reexamining the Gender Gap in Physics" (2025). Dean James E. McLeod Freshman Writing Prize. 33.
https://openscholarship.wustl.edu/mcleod/33
Comments
Dean James E. McLeod Freshman Writing Prize, 2025