Examining Gender Disparities in Nobel Prize Nomination Processes

This essay investigates the significant underrepresentation of women among Nobel Prize recipients, examining the historical context and societal structures that contribute to this disparity. It highlights the small number of female laureates across various fields, particularly in science, and explores potential reasons for this imbalance, including biases in the nomination process and the influence of societal expectations. The essay discusses arguments for and against affirmative action in the selection process, considering the impact of gender diversity on the quality of nominations. It also references instances where women's contributions were overlooked and emphasizes the need for the Nobel Committee to actively address gender inequality and ensure fair recognition of women's achievements. The essay analyzes the debate around gender diversity and its implications for the Nobel Prize's ideals, drawing on academic sources and public discussions to offer a comprehensive overview of the issue.

RUNNING HEAD: GENDER DIVERSITY IN NOBEL PRIZE NOMINATION

1GENDER DIVERSITY IN NOBEL PRIZE NOMINATION
The rarity of the receipt of the Nobel Prize by the women all across the world has raised
questions about the exclusion of the “Second Sex” in the education and careers particularly in
science. The aura of announcement of the nomination has been deemed in recent years as the
question of the little representation of the women has been highlighted. Since the first receipt of
the Nobel Prize in 1901, a total of 892 individuals have been awarded with the prestigious prize,
but, strikingly, the number of women in this list has been as low as forty eight. Among this
marginal ratio, 30 of these women have received the prize either in the field of literature or
peace. This statistics highlights the wide gender gap in the laureates for areas in science
particularly in physics, medicine or chemistry (Gibney, 2018). After Madam Curie, who was the
first woman to receive Nobel Prize in Physics, there are only two women who have received the
prize in this particular field. Elion Claire and Esther Duflo are the only tows Nobel laureate in
Economics, though the later had received the prize jointly with her husband.
One of the reasons for this disparity can be traced with the underlying structures of the
society where there are not enough representation of the women in the higher level of the
scientific studies. Thus, it has often been argued that by reinforcing the gender balance in the
Nobel Prize Nomination, the committee can actually give rise to the compromising with the
quality. The incorporation of the quota in the committee can actually hamper the primary aim of
felicitating the most desirable and competent candidate (Sanderson & Siegfried 2019).
The argument of another school of disciplines follows the line that the work of the
women is often overlooked. This argument recommends that the committee that is changing
effectively every year must keep track on the factor that the works of women are duly noted and
brought in the visibility. With the confession of the chairperson of the Nobel Committee, it is

2GENDER DIVERSITY IN NOBEL PRIZE NOMINATION
quite obvious that the committee this year has actively focused on the increase of the number of
women prize winner, though they had not formally set up for any quota system.
Some critics are of the opinion that the gender inequality or the gender biasness in the
winning if the Nobel Prize is a result of the biased nominating system which comes largely from
the tenured professors (James Chisnall & Plank 2019). More over there had also been debate on
the fact that the tenured professors are of the opinion that the women cannot pursue with the
carrier more and will soon be settled in family. This biased outlook often made them nominate
the other gender.
It has also been found that the powerful men often, by dint of their superiority as the
gender, take the credit from their female colleague. This point was highlighted when Jocelyn
Bell’s contribution in physics was overlooked by the committee. It was her supervisor, Antony
Hewish who took the credit all by himself. Various critics are of the opinion that the committee
has to reinforce a new foundation of the rules and re think about their decision of not re-
awarding a person whose contribution had been once overlooked. The acceptance of such
disparity may actually lead o the failure of the noble Prize committee to live up to the ideals it is
known for. It has also been noted that for the past years the prize for peace had been the
monopoly of western white skinned men unless Obama broke the record. However,
representation of women in this section as well had been less and since 2000, only 6 women had
won this prize (May & Summerfield 2012)..
The argument against and for diversity is a debated one. It has been noted that by the
critics that the forceful balancing of the genders in the Nobel Prize nomination has a tendency of
overlooking the right and the most deserving candidate. The overwhelming thought that there has

3GENDER DIVERSITY IN NOBEL PRIZE NOMINATION
to be a certain amount of women representation can hamper the nomination at the same time. It
has been also argued that the presence f women in the committee will maximize the chance of
women winning the prize since there will be a fair chance of women to look into the contribution
of women.

4GENDER DIVERSITY IN NOBEL PRIZE NOMINATION
Reference List:
Gibney, E. (2018). What the Nobels are--and aren't--doing to encourage diversity. Nature,
562(7725), 19-20.
James, A., Chisnall, R. and Plank, M.J., 2019. Gender and societies: a grassroots approach to
women in science. Royal Society open science, 6(9), p.190633.
May, A. M., & Summerfield, G. (2012). Creating a Space where Gender Matters: Elinor Ostrom
(1933-2012) talks with Ann Mari May and Gale Summerfield. Feminist Economics,
18(4), 25-37.
Pirozhkov, G. INTERNATIONAL NOBEL INFORMATION CENTRE’S ARCHIVE OF
NOBEL FAMILY AND NOBEL PRIZES LAUREATES. ART STUDIES, 31.
Sanderson, A. R., & Siegfried, J. J. (2019). The Nobel Prize in Economics Turns 50. The
American Economist, 0569434519852429.