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Technology and Innovation, Vol. 19, pp. 759-762, 2018 ISSN 1949-8241 • E-ISSN 1949-825X
Printed in the USA. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.21300/19.4.2018.759
Copyright © 2018 National Academy of Inventors. www.technologyandinnovation.org

MIND THE GAP – THE USPTO’S EFFORTS TO NARROW
THE GENDER GAP IN PATENTING AND INNOVATION

Linda Hosler

Office of the Chief Communications Officer, USPTO, Alexandria, VA, USA

“Humans are allergic to change. They love to say, ‘We’ve always done it this way.’
I try to fight that. That’s why I have a clock on my wall that runs counter-clockwise.”

–Grace Hopper, U.S. Navy admiral, inventor of the first compiler for computer
languages, and winner of the National Medal of Technology in 1991

The under-representation of women in scientific Time and again, research has shown that flexi-
research and patenting is well documented — as are ble workplaces can help retain women employees.
the pipeline problems of retaining women as they The USPTO supports a robust telework program
advance in science, technology, engineering, and for its nearly 13,000 employees around the coun-
math (STEM) careers. Disparities in these fields try and offers a wide range of family-friendly work
emerge by high school and only grow wider as careers schedules and leave options for child or elder care.
progress through graduate school, the workforce, Equally important is fostering a sense of community
and the patent application process. These disparities among USPTO employees wherever they might be.
deprive the economy of important innovation and Employee engagement and cohesion are helped at
entrepreneurship (1). As part of its mission to foster the USPTO by employee-run affinity groups, three of
a more innovative U.S. economy, the U.S. Patent and which are specifically focused on women: the USPTO
Trademark Office (USPTO) is committed to support- chapters of Federally Employed Women, Network
ing diversity in its own workforce and among future of Executive Women, and Women in Science and
generations of inventors. Engineering.

_____________________
Accepted: March 1, 2018.
Address correspondence to Linda Hosler, Deputy Program Manager, Office of the Chief Communications Officer, 600 Dulany St., Alexandria, VA 22314,
USA. Tel: +1 (571) 272-8514. E-mail: linda.hosler@uspto.gov

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