Life Paths of Successful Women Scientists in Spain

Abstract

This article discusses interactions between the life paths of women scientists and their status and contributions to science. It is a qualitative study which highlights factors that influenced the successful career of nine Spanish women scientists. These factors include the family encouragement, the novelty of the scientific field or branch in which they work, the mentors they had along their career and the periods of time spent abroad. The women scientist included in the sample are working in different fields: Physics, Psychology, and Neurobiology. The analysis of their professional paths reveals that to develop a successful scientific career, the organization of daily, domestic and private life is important, as well as the existence of other social opportunities which are outlined in the article.

Keywords

• women scientists
• gender
• life paths
• Spain
• success factors