Mother researchers face dismissal from graduate programs at nearly twice the rate of fathers — 66.1% versus 37.5% — when they lose the minimum academic productivity required. The data, from a Parents in Science movement survey of about a thousand faculty members, shows how parenthood unequally affects scientific careers in Brazil. ✓
Press quotes (1)
"Entre os pais, 43,7% deixaram o programa onde atuavam por iniciativa própria, enquanto 37,5% foram descredenciados por perda de produtividade. Já entre as mães, a ordem se inverte: apenas 24,6% saíram a pedido, enquanto 66,1% foram descredenciadas por não apresentarem mais a produção mínima exigida."
The country has been graduating more female than male PhDs for over 20 years, but women remain a minority among professors and receive only one-third of CNPq productivity scholarships — those designated for scientists with the highest distinction. Of the 407 thousand master's and doctoral students in Brazil, 224 thousand (55%) are women, according to 2024 CAPES data. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"Há mais de 20 anos, o Brasil forma mais doutoras do que doutores e ainda assim as mulheres continuam sendo minoria entre os professores de graduação e pós-graduação. Além disso, elas recebem apenas um terço das bolsas de produtividade, destinadas a cientistas com maior destaque na carreira acadêmica."
"Segundo dados da CAPES, dos 407 mil alunos de mestrado e doutorado no Brasil, 224 mil são mulheres. Elas representam uma maioria significativa, totalizando 55% dos matriculados em cursos de pós-graduação stricto sensu."
Parents in Science was founded in 2016 by researcher Fernanda Staniscuaski (UFRGS) alongside six other mothers and one father to discuss parenthood among researchers. The movement now brings together over 90 associated scientists and produces data about a universe that Brazil doesn't officially count — the number of researchers and faculty who have children. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"Então fundou, em 2016, ao lado de outras seis mães e um pai, o movimento Parents in Science para debater a parentalidade entre pesquisadores."
"Uma das principais frentes do Parents in Science tenta preencher uma lacuna de dados sobre esse universo, já que o Brasil não tem uma contagem oficial sobre o número de pesquisadores e docentes que têm filhos, o que impede que o impacto na carreira seja devidamente medido."
Among new CNPq productivity scholarship recipients in 2024, 40% are women, exceeding the historical approval average, according to the Ministry of Science and Technology. But the Parents in Science survey shows that mothers face greater difficulty returning after dismissal: 38% failed to reintegrate, compared to 25% of fathers in the same situation. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"Entre os novos bolsistas, 40% são mulheres, superando a média histórica de aprovação e refletindo o compromisso com a equidade de gênero."
"Considerando apenas as pessoas que saíram por perda de produtividade, 38% das mães não conseguiram retornar, contra 25% dos pais."
Parents in Science was founded in 2016 by Fernanda Staniscuaski and six other scientists (six mothers and one father)
Brazil has been graduating more female than male PhDs for over 20 years, but women remain a minority among professors
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
No gaps or divergences found — sources converge.
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What are CAPES' specific criteria for faculty credentialing and dismissal in graduate programs?
Why it's still unknown: Attempt to obtain CAPES normative documents from DOU (2020-2026) found no specific regulations about required productivity criteria
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How many Brazilian researchers and faculty have children and what is the precise impact on careers?
Why it's still unknown: Brazil has no official count of the number of researchers and faculty who have children, as reported by Parents in Science
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How do factors like race and children's disabilities amplify the impact of parenthood on scientific careers?
Why it's still unknown: Researcher mentions that Black, brown and indigenous women are more underrepresented and mothers of children with disabilities occupy fewer spaces, but specific data was not quantified