Women Scientists in the Leaking Pipeline: Barriers to the Commercialisation of Scientific Knowledge by Women

Abstract

The modern literature explaining the under-representation of women in science often relate to the shortage of women ‘in the pipeline’. The pipeline flows from one stage to another, and the flow of women diminishes over the stages. Speaking of the stages of career during which women scientists ‘leak’ the most, the commercialisation of science as one of the ultimate stages should be taken into consideration. The primary objective of this paper is to discuss barriers to the commercialisation of scientific knowledge by women. The collected extensive literature allows to pinpoint the reason why scientific career or success fail to provide a springboard for the practical use of knowledge. Analysed research, indicate only some of the barriers, meanwhile this paper collects most of ‘experienced’ obstacles and shows them in ‘leaking pipeline’ context. Barriers originate in at least two sources: women themselves and external factors beyond women’s control.