The environment of gender and science: Status and perspectives of women and men in physical geography

In 1995 and 1996 we undertook surveys to identify the status, perspectives, and contributions of women and men in physical geography and geosciences/g eology, and to study the evolution of our fields. This paper presents the r esults of the physical geography survey, and considers the following questi ons: How have academic men and women physical geographers' professional dev elopment experiences differed? Do men and women in physical geography empha size different research areas? Do their research methods differ from one an other! Gender differences were identified most strikingly in rank and tenur e status, research topics and methodologies, and professional satisfaction. Generational differences by academic rank were identified in professional satisfaction and in pull factors. Minor gender differences were found in du al career couple status, but this status had major effects on career choice s and opportunities fur both men and women. This paper is part of our large r project aimed at comparing and contrasting geoscience/geology and physica l geography, and at including the earth sciences in gender and science stud ies that have: long focused on mathematics, chemistry, biology, and physics .