When asked to imagine a physicist, many picture a cisgendered, heterosexual male—often resembling Einstein—highlighting a deep-rooted stereotype in physics. This narrow image pressures individuals to conform to be taken seriously, as it reflects the dominant demographic in the field. Physics communities have faced criticism for perpetuating biases against women and queer individuals. At Queen Mary, however, we have a diverse group of women and queer people (WQP) in physics. A dedicated society for WQP fosters empowerment, provides safe and skill-building spaces, and challenges discrimination, enriching the discipline through diverse perspectives and lived experiences.
Our academic society aims to make physics more welcoming, inclusive, and equitable for WQP, ultimately increasing their representation in the field. Our three main goals are: (1) transforming the traditionally patriarchal, heteronormative culture of physics through activism, events, and outreach; (2) supporting WQP in pursuing physics careers by offering skill-building opportunities and a solidarity network; and (3) amplifying the contributions of women and queer physicists, past and present, especially in cases where their work was overlooked or misattributed.
Women and queer people face shared oppression rooted in patriarchy and gender norms, often underrepresented in physics. Textbooks and media typically highlight heterosexual, cisgender men, making it hard for marginalized groups to see themselves in the field. By focusing on WQP, we create spaces to discuss discrimination and bias directly. The number of WQP in academic physics remains disproportionately low, including at Queen Mary. Our society unites individuals facing similar challenges to support and inspire one another, promoting representation and encouraging WQP to reach their full potential.