Intersectional inequities in academia

Gender equality in academia still faces enduring challenges globally, with under-representation of women in leadership and decision-making positions. However, most universities and research institutions actively implement gender equality plans and undertake activities aimed at increasing it. Despite this remarkable progress, intersectionality lags behind. This term, first coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, corresponds to the “lens through which you can see where power comes and collides, where it interlocks and intersects”.1Crenshaw K Demarginalizing the intersection of race and sex: a Black feminist critique of antidiscrimination doctrine, feminist theory and antiracist politics.in: Bartlett K Feminist legal theory. Routledge, New York, NY1991Google Scholar Intersectionality conceptualises that there are multiple simultaneous sources of oppression: race, class, gender identity, sexual orientation, neurodivergence, and other identity markers that can create a complex web of oppression. For instance, women from under-represented minorities experience the interplay of sexism, racism, and, for example, ableism (as in the case of autistic scientists) in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). This is because white neurotypical men are historically over-represented in the STEM academic fields.2Cech E The intersectional privilege of white able-bodied heterosexual men in STEM.Sci Adv. 2022; 8eabo1558Crossref PubMed Scopus (16) Google Scholar The consequent brain drain often commences with outright aggression and discriminatory behaviours, sexism, racism, insufficient institutional and grant support, and inadequate working arrangements for individuals’ unique needs. The consequences of this inequity are dire: women of colour, particularly those who are LBTQ+ and with a disability, are seldom promoted in academic institutions and may leave science altogether.2Cech E The intersectional privilege of white able-bodied heterosexual men in STEM.Sci Adv. 2022; 8eabo1558Crossref PubMed Scopus (16) Google Scholar Therefore, intersectionality must be a focus in research and academia to ensure real equity and prosperity. To incorporate an intersectional perspective, we need to reconstruct universities and research institutions, often built on racist, misogynist, and colonial ideals. Despite policy efforts targeted at making universities more inclusive and equitable, academia is still rife with discrimination, institutional resistance to intersectional equity, and retaliation against reporters of misconduct in universities and research institutions. This adverse scenario is particularly so for women academics from under-represented minorities that differ from the majority on multiple dimensions and are the ones who show a stronger and more negative relationship between policy ineffectiveness and psychological safety.3Kozlowski D Larivière V Sugimoto CR Monroe-White T Intersectional inequalities in science.PNAS. 2023; 119e2113067119Google Scholar What can we do? A coordinated, consistent, and sustained effort with policy makers, grant holders, universities, and research institutions—with the active participation of scientists with intersecting minority identities—is the first step in a complex and multifaceted roadmap against injustice. The next step is to create an inclusive career development framework, acknowledging intersectional identities to monitor and support the career progression of marginalised academics, thus ensuring progression from early career fellowships to full professor appointments in STEM.4Tauber S Women academics' intersectional experiences of policy ineffectiveness in the European context.Fron Psychol. 2022; 13810569PubMed Google Scholar Finally, yet importantly, policy makers, academic journals, grant holders, universities, and research institutions must publicly endorse and push forward intersectionality to increase diversity in academia. SLC is funded by the Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation; the funder had no role in the writing of the Correspondence or the decision to publish it.