Prof. Anna-Katharina Hornidge was invited to give an input on women in leading positions in science as part of a workshop on women in leadership held with female managers at the German Federal Ministry of Health.
Anna-Katharina Horndige, ©IDOS
At the workshop, which took place on 18 March 2025, Prof. Hornidge held her presentation with the title “The glass ceiling: from individual breakthrough to structural and cultural overcoming”. She chose this title to emphasise the necessity to address the root causes of inequality in leadership positions beyond promoting nevertheless important individual stories of and paths to success.
The presentation highlighted current gender gaps in leadership, citations, and awards. Consequently, structural equality goals are required, which can be achieved, for example, through gender-sensitive recruitment, the creation of more permanent positions which requires reform of the German Academic Fixed-Term Contract Act, and greater transparency in salary structures. Advancing work-life balance by enabling dual career opportunities and supporting your families financially and with child care are equally important, as is protection against sexualised violence.
At a cultural level, Prof. Hornidge stressed the need to actively scrutinise existing images and stereotypes and overcome biases. Targeted attempts to promote the visibility of female scientists by deliberately citing them or nominating them for prizes or advisory boards help, as does conscious network building.
