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Welcome to Phi:male, the commission for equal opportunities in and around VMP.

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Sophia, a cheerful 3rd-year physics student, share Sophia, a cheerful 3rd-year physics student, shares her experience as a woman in STEM! Pressure and Gender Stereotypes: At ETH Zürich, Sophia notices the high pressure students face, especially early on, and observes that women often respond differently than men. She explains, „Women tend to have lower self-esteem, so there’s more internal stress,“ adding, „In exams, they might self-doubt more than men.“ Sophia attributes this to societal stereotypes: „Women are said to be more caring and social, so they talk about stress more, which can create a negative spiral.“ Many women in STEM may have been labeled as „gifted kids“ who now struggle to meet high expectations, amplifying this spiral. Exam Situations: This spiral becomes especially noticeable during exams. After facing the challenge of not passing her first Basisprüfungsblock, Sophia succeeded on her second attempt, learning valuable lessons: „Women may strive for perfectionism and take failure more personally. When I didn’t pass, I really doubted myself. But I realized the world goes on and with my second try, I succeeded.“ Sophia believes confidence plays a major role, observing that „many of my male friends who had similar preparation passed, while those with lower confidence didn’t.“ Role Models in Physics: Sophia recognizes the importance of role models in boosting confidence but feels this is lacking in physics. „I think physics being so male-dominated affects young women’s confidence. I don’t really have a physics role model. Though it hasn’t affected my decision to study physics, it can feel lonely not having anyone to look up to.“ She suggests this might be because physics is highly math-oriented, while women may seek broader fields. Thank you, Sophia, for sharing your insights on gender challenges in academia! What do you think?
Come by for a super interesting coffee lecture wit Come by for a super interesting coffee lecture with Prof. de Cosa, a CERN based particle physicist and ETH professor who will talk about her life and experiences as a woman in STEM. As always with free pizza afterwards!!🎉🍕
Meet Tom, a fifth-semester mathematics student at Meet Tom, a fifth-semester mathematics student at ETH Zurich. In this interview, Tom shares his perspectives on the representation of women in academia and the challenges they face. Gender Representation: Tom notes the underrepresentation of women among professors at D-MATH. „There are fewer female professors, though I’ve seen more as I progress,“ he comments. He also finds the absence of women at a conference disappointing. „Out of 120 participants, there were less than 20 women.“ Stress and Gender: Tom believes women in his circle experience stress differently at ETH. „They tend to have lower self-esteem and are less confident in their abilities,“ he says, attributing this to societal influences. He speculates that this lower confidence affects exam performance, especially in mathematics and physics, where clear thinking is crucial. However, those who do pursue these fields are highly capable due to the filter effect of societal barriers. Societal Influences and Career Choices: Tom reflects on societal pressures that deter women from studying at ETH. „Many societal values still don’t align with studying at ETH as a woman,“ he says, noting that these beliefs will take time to change. This raises the question of whether societal pressures significantly influence women’s decisions about pursuing careers in academia. „Studies show many women want to stay home rather than pursue careers, but is that choice real or societal?“ Balancing Career and Family: Tom finds that academia might be more supportive for women with children. He recalls a seminar where a female academic shared how academia was more accommodating than other careers during her PhD. Challenges Faced by Female Academics: Female professors don’t often discuss gender issues in lectures but address them informally. „Professor Da Lio and Professor Iacobelli have spoken about their experiences as women in mathematics,“ Tom says. #WomenInSTEM #GenderDifferences #Mathematics #StressManagement #ImposterSyndrome #AcademicLife #ETHZürich #LeakyPipeline
Hey everyone! We hope the semester is going well f Hey everyone! We hope the semester is going well for you and that you’ve settled into your classes and projects. As we reach the middle of the term, we’re excited to invite you to our mid-semester meeting! Whether you’ve been involved with phi:male or VMP before, or if you’re new and curious about what we do, feel free to join us! Everyone’s welcome, and there are no obligations—just come by, share your thoughts, and meet others in the community. 😊 Date: Tuesday, 12 November Time: 17:30 Location: HG F26.3 Looking forward to seeing you there!
Such an amazing time catching up with everyone at Such an amazing time catching up with everyone at last week’s Midweek Mingle! Bis aufs nächste Mal! 🎉
Join Prof. Dr. Sarah Zerbes, ETH Zürich’s numbe Join Prof. Dr. Sarah Zerbes, ETH Zürich’s number theory expert and Latin literature enthusiast, as she bridges ancient languages with today’s world 🌍📜. Discover Latin’s modern-day relevance, dive into thought-provoking books 📚, and explore new perspectives. This inspiring event, in collaboration with Phi:male and thebookclub, welcomes everyone! 🌟 Sign up via the link in bio.
Hey everyone! Our next Midweek Mingle is happening Hey everyone! Our next Midweek Mingle is happening this 22nd October at 18:00 at bQm! Drinks and snacks are on us🍻 Everyone is welcome, so don’t miss out! See you there!🙌
Meet Esther Petat, a fifth-semester mathematics st Meet Esther Petat, a fifth-semester mathematics student at ETH Zürich. She shared her insights on how gender influences experiences in academia, touching on stress, confidence, and the challenges women face in male-dominated fields like STEM. On Stress Management: Esther believes women often have a healthier relationship with stress, recognizing the need to take breaks sooner. “Women tend to take breaks earlier when stressed and say, ‘I need something to calm down and evacuate the stress.’ Men often adopt a ‘let’s work all the time’ mentality.” Self-Assessment and Competition: Esther observes differences between genders: “Both men and women compare themselves to friends, but the importance given to this comparison isn’t the same. In general, the competition to be the best is stronger for men. Women are often satisfied with a result that is good for them, even if friends did better.” Imposter Syndrome: Esther suggests women might speak about it more openly than men. She reflects, “Maybe men were educated to think everything is granted to them, while women often wonder, ‘Am I allowed to do that?’” Gendered Expectations: Esther highlights how small differences in childhood shape gendered expectations: “From a young age, comments like ‘Oh, you’re a woman and good at sports—that’s impressive,’ subtly suggest that women aren’t supposed to excel in certain areas. These remarks continue throughout life, but at some point, you stop noticing them.” Handling Failure: Esther notes, “I think men are more willing to try again because failure is not an option. Women, however, may struggle with imposter syndrome and start thinking they really are imposters after a failure.” Personal Experiences at ETH: Despite these challenges, Esther hasn’t personally felt treated differently for being a woman at ETH, but admits, “Maybe I’m bad at noticing it.” Esther’s reflections shed light on the often unnoticed gender dynamics in academia. Her insights remind us of the importance of recognizing and addressing these subtle differences as we strive for equality in STEM fields. #WomenInSTEM #GenderDifferences #Mathematics #StressManagement #ImposterSyndrome #AcademicLife #ETHZürich
Hey! I hope all of you had a great start into the Hey! I hope all of you had a great start into the new semester and to those of you just starting out; welcome to ETH! We are phi:male and we are interested in all things equal opportunity within VMP. Our aim is to build a community and spread awareness through the many events we do 😄 Do you want to get to meet us or know what we’re about? Come join us at the start of the semester meeting! 😊💫 Looking forward to meeting you there!
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