National / cultural context. The socialist past of Romania plays an important role for the high representation of women in physics (and in STEM in general). It is also an important factor for the general perception of people that men and women are equal, that equality of opportunities already exists and that there is no need for action. However, women at the decision level are still lacking (in general). According to the law, research institutions need to have somebody in charge of overseeing equality of opportunity. At IFIN-HH the union is doing this and is also reporting regularly about issues that might occur in the field of gender-related equal opportunities.
National / cultural context. Due to a general post-crisis economic situation in Italy there are only few permanent positions available. The lack of permanent positions was argued to be a bottleneck in the career of female physicists in Italy: Positions are rare, highly competitive, and only available at later stage in the career. So women either have to wait long to get a permanent position and then have a baby late(r) or they do not wait and give up job or at least career perspectives for a child. This is one reason why Italian female physicists often move to countries like Switzerland, Germany or US/GB, where more positions are available and these are better paid. Also, in these countries there is usually more support for childcare and a better work-life balance provision than in Italian research organizations. In Italy a lack of adequate childcare facilities often implies that women physicists have to choose between career and family. Other women quit their job to follow their partner (often also physicists) to another country. In general, women are well represented in physics in Italy, but mainly at the beginning of the physics career pipeline. At school and at university girls do well but while school is supportive, the private environment seems less fond of daughters studying physics because it is perceived as difficult to reconcile with family duties. At more senior career levels, women are present in increasingly fewer numbers.
