Shortage of women teaching physics in Cameroonian universities

Throughout the world women are underrepresented in physics and related career fields. This can be explained by the fact that women are not given access to various resources and opportunities. Even in developed countries such as Italy, Spain, and China, women have fewer resources and opportunities than men. The situation is worse in less developed countries and especially in African countries where gender consideration remains a major matter. The overall attitude tends to underestimate women in strategic careers and positions. It is sad that very few women are represented in science and technology. Furthermore, the percentage of women in science, especially in physics, can be viewed as meaningless compared to men in our country. Previous studies have shown that in Cameroon, the percentage of women in physics drops sharply at the postgraduate level and, consequently for physics careers, for instance, in the teaching sector. It is worth noting that in Cameroon, women have made little progress in physics in the last few years. It is still challenging to overcome the barriers that hinder their success in physics. In this paper, the statistics of women enrolled in physics and women teaching physics in Cameroonian universities and their career paths are presented and discussed. Some recommendations are made in order to improve and encourage women in physics.