WOMEN'S JOURNEY THROUGH MYRMECOLOGY: AN INSPIRING STORY

Historically, science has been dominated by men. Despite some advances throughout history, recent studies highlight the underrepresentation of women in STEM fields, including Myrmecology. While ant colonies are female-dominated, scientific production in this field is the complete opposite, not only male-dominated but also far from achieving gender equity. In Brazil, only 20 out of 70 Myrmecology laboratories are coordinated by women. This is reflected in the low rate of women in senior research positions, often they abandon their scientific careers early, before completing undergraduate studies. As in society, women's persistence and involvement in the academic environment are hindered by barriers including pervasive belittlement harassment and societal stigmas around motherhood and family responsibilities, compounded by insufficient institutional support. Nevertheless, many women have overcome these challenges, making significant contributions to Brazilian Myrmecology. This chapter aims to highlight some of the many inspiring stories. Just as these stories have inspired us, we hope that new ones will emerge and inspire a new generation of myrmecologists.