Women in science and technology equal opportunity act, 1980 : hearing before the Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Research of the Committee on Labor and Human Resources, United States Senate, Ninety-sixth Congress, second session, on S. 568 ... March 3, 1980.

  • United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Labor and Human Resources. Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Research.
Date:
1980
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Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Women in science and technology equal opportunity act, 1980 : hearing before the Subcommittee on Health and Scientific Research of the Committee on Labor and Human Resources, United States Senate, Ninety-sixth Congress, second session, on S. 568 ... March 3, 1980. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    TITLE I—STATEMENT OF FINDINGS, PURPOSE, AND POLICY STATEMENT OF FINDINGS Sec. 101. The Congress finds that— (D) it is in the national interest to promote the full use of human resources in science and technology and to insure the full development and use of the talents of men and women with scientific and technical skills; (2) the preeminent position of the Nation in science and technology depends upon the development of the full potential of the talents of men and women with scientific and technological skills, and the full employment of such men and women produces Job opportunities in technical and support occupations and exerts a strong multiplier effect on the gross national product; (3) the full use of the scientific and technical human resources of the Nation is required to meet the strong demand for such resources over the long term; (4) skills in science and mathematics are essential for entry and achievement in a wide range of professional and technical fields; . (5) literacy in science and mathematics contributes importantly to the ability of the individual to function in a wide range of activities; (6) women have long been denied equal educational and employment opportunities in scientific and technical fields; and (7) although men and women have equal potential for excellence and advancement in scientific and technical fields— (A) the proportion of women earning doctoral degrees in science in the decade of the 1970s is no greater than the proportion of women earning such degrees in the decade of the 1920s; (B) less than 10 percent of scientists and engineers engaged in research are women, (C) the unemployment rates of women scientists are three times higher than such rates for men in every field of science, and are five times higher among young doctorates; (D) women scientists generally earn less than men in every field, at every degree level, at every level of experience and in every employment setting; ee minority women have yet to achieve measurable participation in science; an (F) handicapped women have yet to achieve measurable participation in scti- ence. DECLARATION OF PURPOSE Sec. 102. It is the purpose of this Act to encourage the full participation of women in scientific, engineering, professional, and technical fields through programs and procedures which— (1) prepare women for scientific, engineering, professional, and technical ca- reers; (2) increase opportunities for the employment and advancement of women in science and technology; (3) improve the science education of women, with particular emphasis on mathematics education; (4) promote the literacy of women in science and mathematics; (5) encourage the participation of minority women in scientific and technical education and careers; (6) encourage the participation of handicapped women in scientific and techni- cal education and careers; and (7) educate and inform the public concerning the importance of the participa- tion of women in science and technology. STATEMENT OF POLICY Sec. 103. The Congress declares it is the policy of the United States to encourage women to acquire skills in science and mathematics, to assure equal opportunity for women in education, training, and employment in scientific and technical fields, and thereby to promote scientific literacy and the full use of the human resources of the Nation in science and technology. Activities conducted to carry out the purposes and provisions of this Act shall— (1) be carried out under the direction of the National Science Foundation; (2) make maximum use of existing Federal programs, funding, and reporting procedures; (3) provide for full coordination between all Federal agencies involved in carrying out the provisions of this Act