Gender Bias and Stereotyping in Portrayals of Female Physicists: An International Analysis from 2019-2022

This research quantifies the presence of pervasive gender biases and discriminatory depictions within the field of physics through the analysis of media representations. Utilizing a dataset spanning 2019-2022 in Mali, India, Peru, and Singapore, the study employs natural language processing techniques to identify instances of biased language, particularly indicative of assumptions of biological determinism (BD) and childhood socialization (CS). Findings reveal more pronounced BD/CS-insinuating diction in lower HDI regions, ranging from 21% in Mali to 0.8% in Singapore. Female physicist representation in academic literature averaged 11.9%, with first authorship rates varying from 0.2% in Mali to 23.2% in Singapore. Negative depictions persisted despite a 27% increase in references to female physicists, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to counteract prejudice and foster inclusive environments within the physics community in order to promote gender equity and harness diverse perspectives in advancing research, development, and scientific innovation.