The hierarchical, male-dominated environment of academia must change, or it will continue to exclude the contribution and representation of black women, write Cameron John Sabet , Simar Singh Bajaj , and Fatima Cody Stanford
The academic landscape in the United States, much like in other parts of the world, is a hierarchical environment with male gatekeepers often determining advancement to higher levels of seniority. This situation can perpetuate a lack of diversity in decision making and a lower likelihood of women, especially black women, being awarded tenure.1 In 2020, just 2.3% of US medical school faculty were black women, with most in entry level positions.2 Diversifying tenure committees can elevate the voices of minority scholars, catalyse innovative scholarship, and stimulate a more inclusive academic climate.
Diversity in academic leadership is key, and when it is lacking it can stunt the expansion of …
The DST, Department of Biotechnology, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Indian Council of Medical Research and the Ministry of Earth Sciences are major government sponsoring bodies for the event.