This month EPWS gives the floor to Beáta Nagy.
Professor Nagy is an outstanding Hungarian sociologist with a special competence in gender studies, including women in science.
Contact:
beata.nagy@uni-corvinus.hu
Twitter: http://web.uni-corvinus.hu/szoc/
EPWS: What made you want to go to science? How did you decide to choose your discipline and your particular field of research? Did you have an inspiring model (parent, relative, teacher, literature, etc.)?
One of my professors suggested starting investigation on female managers, as he experienced in the US that it was a popular topic. As I first started to investigate the issue of women’s special situation in society, it was not a widespread and supported field in my country.
What do you work on? How important is your research topic for science development or society?
Next to teaching I carry out several investigations on gender equality. The most relevant topic for EPWS might be my book on the gender order of a university teaching IT and engineering students. I explored the very traditional and stereotypical perception regarding male and female students.
What is your greatest success as a researcher (and as a teacher if you teach), the one you are most proud of? Could you share the memory of a great personal satisfaction during your research career with us?
I received the “Master of teaching” award based on my teaching activity. I’m also very proud of my students I work with. We have also published several articles together.
In which country/countries have you been doing research?
Mainly in Hungary, but earlier I also had fellowship in Germany.
EPWS: What is your agenda for the coming months?
My research group is in the middle of a sociological investigation preparing qualitative interviews. Moreover, we are also working on the preparation of a Hungarian-Japanese comparison of gender regimes.
Did you meet any barriers (personal/social/structural) during your career as a scientific researcher? Did you benefit from mentoring?
I met structural barriers around the promotion to full professorship. Gender studies are not very welcome in the previous generations of researchers and evaluators.
What is the situation of gender equality in your working field? In the countries where you have been working, were there gender equalities policies and did you experience their effects? What do you suggest for a better implementation of gender equality in science?
Hungary has never been a forerunner of gender equality, as the country can be characterized by traditional gender roles. This situation has actually worsened in the last some years.
If we look at Hungary, there should be gender equality policies in order to recognize the problem, i.e. women’s limited participation and appreciation in science.
Did you experience networking between women scientists? Can you comment your answer and explain why yes or not?
Yes, the Hungarian Association of Women in Science is a great place to support each other.
If you could start again your life, would you choose again to be a scientist? What would you change?
Yes, but I would be more decisive and direct.
Could you leave a message to young European women scientists?
Be prepared that there are biases even in academic fields, and support each other!
Favourite Links:
The Hungarian association of Women in Science (NaTE)
-website in Hungarian : http://nokatud.hu/
-presentation in English : https://epws.org/?s=Hungarian+Women+in+Science
-NaTE is participating in the EFFORTI EU project https://www.efforti.eu/