Stories and Strategies from Successful Women Scientists
Recruitment and retention of women in science have always been an uphill battle. In her book Every Other Thursday: Stories and Strategies from Successful Women Scientists, former UC Berkeley molecular biologist Ellen Daniell, PhD, shares the experiences of seven women scientists who collaboratively solved their professional problems in a bimonthly meeting called Group.
Daniell discussed her book with UCSF students on May 9 as a part of the spring Student Enrichment Series sponsored by the Student Activity Center and the Center for Gender Equity. "As women in science, all of the group members had experienced isolation and competition in their professional lives, leading to similar psychological issues," said Daniell. "Group was a way for us to discuss professional problems that we had in common and to recognize when we had options." The seven women in the group, including UCSF professors Christine Guthrie, PhD, and Carol Gross, PhD, have been meeting for almost 30 years. With members elected to the National Academy of Sciences and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, along with prestigious professorships and research positions, these high-achieving women have demonstrated that continuous practical and emotional support is, indeed, a key to success. Daniell emphasized that the book is not only for women and not only for scientists. "This group approach can work for both women and men who have shared concerns in their professional setting and need help overcoming barriers in any profession," said Daniell. "It's not about gender; it's about solving professional problems and the power of not going at it alone." The meetings follow a structured protocol to allow enough time to share individual problems, receive feedback and still have some social time at the end. In the book, Daniell uses metaphors to articulate esoteric emotional concepts. For example, a "pig" is a negative self-perception, such as "My mind always goes blank when I have to write a paper." Along with giving honest and neutral feedback, the group helps identify "pigs" and offers strategies to overcome the negative self-perception, such as "Remind yourself that this is just a draft." "The pig concept allows you to get over the characterization and get to the actual problem," said Daniell, who has a humorous collection of glass, porcelain and wooden pigs of her own. "It is important to recognize that to do the best job, you need to overcome these obstacles and ask for everything you need." After strategies to solve the problem are discussed, the presenter makes a contract: a precise formulation of objectives and the steps required to meet those objectives. The meeting ends on a positive note, with members giving each other specific compliments and individual accomplishments being acknowledged. "Key focuses in the group are to celebrate our achievements, recognize that we are entitled to success and to remind each other to treat ourselves with compassion," said Daniell. "With this book, our hope is that sharing our experiences will help others consider the benefits of such a group in their lives."