Gender gap in mathematics in academic and research institutions: A small case study

The problem of disproportionate numbers of men and women in the field of mathematics is reflected in a small number of women mathematicians in leading positions in research institutions and universities in the whole world. The studies show that the numbers of women in the field of mathematics becomes progressively lower as they climb the hierarchical ladder on academic and professional level. In our research we applied integrative approach which included collection of data from the interviews conducted with eleven women mathematicians of different age which come from Europe, North America and Australia. We were particularly interested in the strategies the participants used in order to bridge the gender gap in the field of mathematics in which they excelled. The study points to the factors that might explain their dedication to pursue the study of mathematics despite institutional and socio-cultural obstacles they had to surmount.