First Published via HUB Magazine when I was Culture Editor.

Date Published: 18th November 2022.

The ResearcHER is a book inspiring the next generation of women to join research careers, written in collaboration with the Women in Academia Support Network (WIASN).

Founded in 2017, WISAN now has over 12,000 members in over 100 countries. It is a trans-inclusive and intersectional network for women who have lived through misogyny in their academic roles.

The authors of the book, Dr Kelly Pickard-Smith, Dr Amy Bonsall and Professor Elenora Belfiore, have overcome academic struggles to get to where they are today.

As Dr Kelly Pickard-Smith writes, ‘the book intends to not only inspire but also appreciate women’s contributions… developing new solutions, ways of thinking and being’. The book is easy to read, with short chapters offering an insightful view of researchers and exciting activities to do at home. The book also provides fun facts to offer a window into the lives of the researchers.

The book reveals the hardships of sexism in the research community, where ‘more than half of PhDs awarded are to women’ and yet ‘are woefully underrepresented in senior roles (2).

The book examines the research of diverse women as well. Fatima A. Junaid started a safe group for ‘Pakistani women in Academia’ and researched the wellbeing of Pakistani women. As is written, ‘We will hear difficult stories, but those voices need to be heard and known (11). Sarah Mohammad-Quereshi wants the reader to question our privilege in everyday life, as it is essential to understand how identity affects other people in professional careers (48).

While most of the researchers are heterosexual, Maria Maclennan identifies as bisexual. She aims to ‘leave the ladder down to help support other young women to take up more space in these areas in the future (22). Not only is it important for young queer women to have opportunities in these research fields, but it is equally important for them to have role models. As Melissa Anne Beattie (aromantic asexual) says ‘I’m at least able to show my students and my colleagues someone who managed to get to the front of the classroom while also being ‘different’ (41).

Jasmine Hazel Shadrack, who identifies as bisexual and is a late-diagnosed autistic, uses her research to focus on different ways to work through being a survivor of domestic abuse. As she notes, ‘that methodology has saved me, on more than one occasion (55).

Jennifer Leigh is the Vice Chair of the International Women in Supramolecular Chemistry (WISC) which launched in 2019. It aims to bring a ‘social science and equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) perspective to work with scientists to address marginalisation’ (59).

As Jessica Mannion notes, ‘it does not matter what you look like, if you have a disability or where you are from, you can still work in academia (67). I genuinely believe this book is inspiring to young women, especially neurodivergent women, as it shows that you can overcome the struggles and discrimination faced as a minority.