Science, technology, and gender equality: Breaking barriers and building a stronger future

Musa T. Yakubu, Quadri O. Nurudeen

Abstract

Science and gender equality are vital for the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Gender equality is a fundamental human right and a pillar of long-term development. Science and technology have the potential to transform communities and economies into more inclusive and equal places. Women and girls continue to confront considerable impediments to entry, involvement, and representation in scientific and technology disciplines in many regions of the world. Over the past decades, the global community has made a lot of effort in inspiring and engaging women and girls in science. Yet less than 30% of the world’s researchers are women and continue to be excluded from participating fully in science (UNESCO, 2021). This editorial explores the relationship between science, technology, and gender equality, focusing on the historical challenges that women have encountered, the progress that has been made, and the possibility of a brighter future.

Keywords

Science, technology, gender equality, barriers

Full Text:

PDF

References

European Commission (2021). Gender Equality in Academia and Research. https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/strategy/eu-gender-equality/gender-equality-academia-and-research_en

Moss-Racusin CA, Dovidio JF, Brescoll VL, Graham MJ, & Handelsman J (2012). Science faculty's subtle gender biases favor male students. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 109(41), 16474-16479.

Nosek BA, Banaji MR, & Greenwald AG (2009). Math = male, me = female, therefore math ≠ me. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 83(1), 44-59.

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (2021). Executive Summary of the UNESCO Science Report: The race against time for smarter development. https://www.unesco.org/reports/science/2021/en/download-report

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (2021). Gender Equality. https://www.unicef.org/education/gender-equality

Williams WM & Ceci SJ (2015). National hiring experiments reveal 2:1 faculty preference for women on STEM tenure track. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112(17), 5360-5365.

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.