The Career Paths of Women (and Men) in French Research

International audienceThis paper presents results from a qualitative study of perceptions of science careers in the CNRS, the main French research institution. Its aim is to understand the 'glass ceiling' effect, which reduces the proportion of women at the higher levels of the career hierarchy. Long interviews were carried out with men as well as women and support staff as well as researchers. Factors such as tension between individual and collective dimensions of research activity and long-term timemanagement problems were identified, which affect both men and women but in different ways. Organizations bear an important responsibility through the way they reinforce or alleviate difficulties that women and men face in contributing to scientific research at all levels