#IDWGS Essay - Women and Girls in Science Leadership- A New Era for Sustainability by Judith Atotuoma

WOMEN AND GIRLS IN SCIENCE LEADERSHIP- A NEW ERA FOR SUSTAINABILITY

“Women, whether subtly or vociferously, have always been a tremendous power in the destiny of the world.”-Eleanor Roosevelt. In recent decades, gender equality is acknowledged as one of the most essential necessities for development, including the field of science and technology. Despite the recognition, there remains a significant gap in leadership positions, with women and girls often underrepresented. This exposition investigates the significance of engaging women and girls in science position of authority and the advantages it brings to society.

To begin with, expanding the presence of female leaders in science helps challenge existing predispositions and generalization advancing inclusivity and variety inside the field as they help bring in lived experience, collaborative, and inclusive approaches in their work that improves the knowledge of any science field. Female leaders are often skilled at establishing and maintaining solid relationships which can improve scientific cooperation and teamwork.

In addition, teams with gender diversity tend to make better decisions and produce better results, according to research. Female leaders in science provide value bringing in greater creativity emerging from their good approach to challenges, and this leads to innovation. Their distinctive perspectives and knowledge can help with recognizing creative arrangements and speeding up progress toward a more maintainable future. Collaboration boosts scientific innovation, as COVID-19 demonstrated, highlighting the importance of transformational leadership.

Moreover, having more females in administration additionally adds to the “role model effect” where young ladies see ladies in administrative roles as good examples. Quoting the words of Sandra Day O’Connor, “as women achieve power, the barriers will fall. As society sees what women can do, as women see what women can do, there will be more women out there doing things, and we will all be better off for it”. By possessing leadership roles, females act as good examples for people in the future, moving the younger generations to seek after professions in science and development.

Notwithstanding, there are still several barriers women face in the science industry. Primarily, work-life imbalance is one of the major issues women face, having to work efficiently and still manage the home can be very hectic for women. In order to maintain the respect of their colleagues, women tend to work harder and spend more time in the laboratories. Offsetting family obligations with requesting professions in science can be trying for ladies, frequently bringing about less open door for professional success.

Furthermore, cultural differences and a “woman’s role in society” is another trouble spot for women in science. These discriminations can directly or indirectly impede a successful scientific career. Women are still underrepresented in leadership roles, particularly at the highest levels of organizations. They might be seen as too emotional or not assertive enough, prompting bias while ladies who really do champion themselves might be considered excessively forceful or unlikeable, making a “double bind” that can make it hard to explore working environment elements.

Inadequate mentorship and representation is another challenge female face in the science industry. It is hard to envision yourself as president or chief officer when you’ve never seen someone who looks like you in that position. It creates a sense of lack of belonging to the environment and no one will like to stick to an environment where they do not feel like they belong. Those who withstand the challenge face the added burden of silent work.

However, this exposition will not be complete if we do not explore how we can curb some of these challenges and strengthen women leadership in the science field. Regarding the work-life imbalance, executing approaches that advance orientation correspondence such as flexible work arrangements and parental leave policies can support women in balancing out their professional and personal lives.

Next, women and girls can gain the skills and confidence they need to take on leadership roles in science by having access to high quality education and mentoring programs. By increasing the visibility of women as mentors and leaders, role models emerge which pave the way for future generations. A solid mentoring program would help women to establish a learning environment for mentees and mentors as both would learn from each other. By doing so, women scientists will become responsive to each other experiences, expand their professional perspective and fortify the role of women in science.

In conclusion, enabling women and girls in science initiative is not just an issue of equity and social justice but also essential for driving innovation, fostering diversity and addressing complex global challenges. By breaking hindrances and establishing comprehensive conditions, we can saddle the maximum capacity of women and girls in science administration, making ready for a more splendid and enhanced future. Science is not a man’s game neither is it a woman’s game, it is “everyone’s game”.

About the Author

Judith Atotuoma was born in Delta State, Nigeria. She got her enthusiasm for writing from her mother who is very passionate about writing. As aa child, she despised writing and preferred reading instead. But growing up, she realized how important writing is and knowing how to express your thoughts in clear and concise writing is a skill everyone must have. She was awarded the bronze award in Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition in 2023 and that increased her zeal for writing even more. She is currently a medical student in the University of Benin, Benin City Nigeria.