Chinese and American women compared: experiences and opportunities in science and technology

Summary form only given. Reports on the interchange between the Women in Science Delegation of the USA and their Chinese counterparts, during a visit of the delegation to China in June 1999. This program was founded to establish and maintain interpersonal communication among members of the world community. The delegation met with numerous women in China. The aim of the Women in Science exchange was to contribute to the efforts to increase and encourage the participation of women in science by advocacy, education, research and program development. Included were technology reviews, site visits, a visit with a Chinese family, and discussions on the achievements and progress of women in science and technology. Remarkably, women today comprise 35% (or more than 80,000,000) of the Chinese scientific and technological workforce. This paper summarizes the author´s observations made during the visit on the historical development, current professional opportunities, problems and difficulties, and the impact on organizational and societal life of Chinese women in science and technology. A particular focus is on women´s role in the creation and manufacture of new technologies, in publishing and patenting as sole authors, in research and engineering management, and in technical organizations. Comparisons are made, along the same dimensions, with American women, based on the experiences of the author (and her colleagues), covering over 45 years of continuous work as a scientist and engineer and technical manager in industry and academia