Gender Gaps in the Mathematical Sciences: The Creativity Factor

TL;DR

This paper reviews gender disparities in mathematical sciences, emphasizing the role of creativity differences and proposing strategies to enhance analytical creativity among women in research settings.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of creativity as a factor in gender gaps and offers constructive suggestions to improve creative output in mathematical research.

Findings

Gender gaps persist in mathematical sciences.

Creativity differences may contribute to these gaps.

Strategies can enhance analytical creativity among women.

Abstract

This article presents an overview, and recent history, of studies of gender gaps in the mathematically-intensive sciences. Included are several statistics about gender differences in science, and about public resources aimed at addressing them. We then examine the role that gender differences in creativity play in explaining the recent and current gender differences in the mathematical sciences, and identify several constructive suggestions aimed at improving analytical creativity output in research institutions.