Smashing Stereotypes! Psychologist Harnesses Superpowers to Diversify Scientific Research
Like most superheroes, Anna Woodcock wrestles with identity. A social psychologist by trade, she and her student sidekicks seek to smash gender and racial stereotypes and change the face of science. Their nemesis? The status quo — the devious discrimination that perpetuates underrepresentation and inequality in the scientific workforce.
Facing such a formidable foe would intimidate most mortals, but Woodcock is prepared for the fight. As a woman in an arena historically dominated by white men, she’s accustomed to being overlooked. In fact, she counts on it. “Being underestimated is a superpower,” she says.
Multiple Identities
A research scientist at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) and Claremont Graduate University, Woodcock studies how gender and racial stereotypes affect people’s identities and career choices. She’s infuriated by the continuing lack of representation in science, and she wasn’t surprised when her graduate student struggled to find images of Latinx scientists for a recent presentation. “You type in ‘scientists,’ and you see white dudes by themselves, and you have to dig for any person of color and any woman of color,” Woodcock says.
It’s scenarios like these that fuel her fighting spirit and drive her research. Woodcock wants to know how women and minorities connect to being a scientist and how they reconcile different social identities — such as Latina and scientist — that are stereotypically incompatible.
Her latest project explores how parents’ beliefs shape their children’s science aspirations. Many CSUSM minority students live at home, and Woodcock says their parents are an important influence. “We find that a lot of these students are tussling two identities: ‘I’m this person at home and this person at school,’” she says.
With the help of Latinx students and faculty, she shows parents that Latinx and scientist are not mutually exclusive.
From Secretary to Scientist
Woodcock knows firsthand how parents can influence children’s vocational paths. Growing up in Australia, she never thought about career options because she didn’t think she had a choice. “My dad was like, ‘You’re not smart. You’re not pretty, but you can drive.’ So maybe I was going to be a truck driver,” she says.
In ninth grade, her parents pulled her out of high school to attend secretarial school. “I’m a terrible typist, so it didn’t work out very well.”
Luckily, resiliency is another of Woodcock’s superpowers, and she wasn’t dissuaded by her parents’ low expectations. She attended high school across the street from the local university, and trips to the school’s library inspired her to pursue a career in psychology.
Even with a doctorate from Purdue University, Woodcock battles for recognition in a science sphere monopolized by white men. She says people assume female professors are less educated and more suited for teaching than research. “You can either get offended or laugh,” she says. “I just use it to my advantage.”
Flying under the radar allows Woodcock to devote more time to the work she loves the most. While some male colleagues practice self-promotion, Woodcock concentrates on changing lives. “I want to train that generation of new scientists,” she says.
Next Gen Science Squad
At CSUSM, Woodcock mentors undergraduates and empowers these future superheroes to slay the status quo. She trains students in all aspects of the research process and coaches them to advocate for inclusivity. Her students flourish under her tutelage, and she says they “wipe the floor” with their opponents at research competitions.
Woodcock runs a tight ship and sets high expectations for her team, but she also cultivates camaraderie. Many women and minorities choose science careers because they want to help people, and the cutthroat climate in research labs can be disheartening. Woodcock wants students to realize there’s a different way to do science.
“We do really, really, really rigorous work, but we care about one another, and we’re collaborative and supportive,” she says. “This is not a zero-sum game. There are enough opportunities for everyone.”
Woodcock’s lofty vision is to be part of what she calls the “new science.” She foresees an inclusive scientific workforce where women and minorities’ voices are valued as much as those of white men. Transformation won’t happen overnight, but she and her students will harness their superpowers to keep fighting the good fight.
“We’re not going away, and we’re not assimilating,” she says. “We’re coming, and we’re making change.”
To learn more about scientists who are making changes, check out this article.
