0.1 Pay it forward

Workshop Authors: Mikke Hebl, Rice University and Sherry E. Woods, University of Texas at Austin.

Slide 1: outline

• Introduction
• Activity
• Review of Relevant Research
• Activity
• Concluding Points

Slide 2: paying it forward

"Reuben St. Clair, the teacher and protagonist in the book "Pay It Forward," starts a movement with this voluntary, extra-credit assignment: THINK OF AN IDEA FOR WORLD CHANGE, AND PUT IT INTO ACTION. Trevor, the 12-year-old hero of "Pay It Forward," thinks of quite an idea. He describes it to his mother and teacher this way: "You see, I do something real good for three people. And then when they ask how they can pay it back, I say they have to Pay It Forward. To three more people. Each. So nine people get helped. Then those people have to do twenty-seven." He turned on the calculator, punched in a few numbers. "Then it sort of spreads out, see. To eighty-one. Then two hundred forty-three. Then seven hundred twenty-nine. Then two thousand, one hundred eighty-seven. See how big it gets?"."

"In practice the philosophy of paying it forward has broadened relative to its literary roots, and now it incorporates a more general flavor of social responsibility and desire to help others in recognition of the help one has received for one's self."

Slide 3: what are your thoughts?

• I believe it is important to be particularly supportive to the needs of women in my department, be them graduate students, postdocs, and/or colleagues.
  • A. Agree
  • B. Disagree
• When reviewing vitas for faculty positions, I sometimes catch myself evaluating a female candidate differently than a male candidate.
  • A. Agree
  • B. Disagree
• What would you say to this female PhD student? (April 2007)
  • "One of the reasons my advisor has encouraged me to look into a career in academia is the fact that I am female. He said that with my background and credentials, the fact that I am female should greatly increase my chances of finding a position. This is NOT what I want."
  • "I would be mortified to learn that I was hired over a male only because I was a female. I want to be recognized for my abilities and not for my sex."
• A recent study indicates that:
  • A. Junior female scientists believe that senior female colleagues do less work and are less committed to their careers than men.
  • OR...
  • B. Senior female scientists believe that junior female colleagues do less work and are less committed to their careers than men.
• Given the low representation of academic women in STEM, do female faculty have a responsibility or obligation to "Pay It Forward" toward other STEM women?
  • A. Yes
  • B. No
  • C. Undecided

Slide 4: take home message from activity no. 1

The majority of women asked think women should pay it forward. They should help the next generation. They should be agents of change ushering in new female STEM members and doing all they can to support them.