In their article, Belle Derks and colleagues argue that the ‘queen bee’ phenomenon – where women in academia focus on their own success and do not actively support other women – is wrongly perceived as a cause of gender inequality. They explain that this behavior is a survival strategy in an academic culture that rewards masculine traits and structurally disadvantages women. Holding women responsible for achieving gender equality distracts from addressing systemic causes. The authors advocate for structural reforms and a culture that promotes collaboration and equality, benefiting all academics.
