#IDWGS Essay - Women and Girls in Science Leadership: A New Era of Sustainability by Divyanshi Sengar

Introduction

Science is a powerful tool for understanding and transforming the world. It can help us address the complex and interrelated challenges of the 21st century, such as climate change, poverty, health, education, and peace. However, science cannot achieve its full potential without the participation and contribution of women and girls, who make up half of the world’s population and have diverse perspectives and experiences.


Women and girls in science leadership are not only essential for advancing scientific knowledge and innovation, but also for promoting sustainable development and social justice. They can inspire and mentor the next generation of scientists, especially young girls who may face barriers and stereotypes in pursuing science careers. They can also apply their scientific skills and expertise to address the needs and priorities of their communities and countries, and to advocate for evidence-based policies and solutions.

In this essay, I will discuss the current status and challenges of women and girls in science leadership, the benefits and opportunities of their increased involvement, and the actions and strategies that can support and empower them.

Current Status and Challenges

Despite the significant progress made in recent decades, women and girls still face many obstacles and inequalities in accessing and leading science. According to the UNESCO Institute for Statistics, only 28.8% of researchers worldwide are women, and the share is even lower in some regions, such as sub-Saharan Africa (24.9%), South and West Asia (18.5%), and Arab States (17.3%). Moreover, women are underrepresented in senior positions and decision-making roles in science, especially in fields such as engineering, computer science, mathematics, and physics.

Some of the factors that contribute to the gender gap in science leadership include:

Socio-cultural norms and stereotypes: Women and girls often face negative attitudes and expectations from their families, communities, and peers regarding their abilities and roles in science. They may also encounter discrimination and harassment in academic and professional settings, which can affect their confidence and motivation.

Educational barriers and biases: Women and girls may have limited access to quality science education and resources, especially in rural and marginalized areas. They may also face gender biases in curricula, teaching methods, and assessment, which can discourage them from pursuing science subjects and careers.

Structural and institutional constraints: Women and girls may face challenges in balancing their domestic and professional responsibilities, due to the lack of adequate support and policies, such as childcare, parental leave, flexible work arrangements, and career development opportunities. They may also face difficulties in accessing funding, networks, and recognition for their scientific work and achievements.

Benefits and Opportunities

Increasing the participation and leadership of women and girls in science can have multiple benefits and opportunities, not only for themselves, but also for science and society as a whole. Some of these include:

Enhancing scientific excellence and innovation: Women and girls can bring diverse perspectives, experiences, and skills to science, which can enrich the quality and relevance of scientific research and discovery. They can also contribute to the development of new and inclusive solutions and technologies that can address the needs and challenges of different groups and contexts.

Promoting sustainable development and social justice: Women and girls can use their scientific knowledge and skills to tackle the pressing issues and goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, such as poverty eradication, health and well-being, climate action, and gender equality. They can also empower themselves and others to claim their rights and participate in decision-making processes that affect their lives and futures.

Inspiring and mentoring the next generation of scientists: Women and girls can serve as role models and mentors for young girls who aspire to pursue science careers, by sharing their stories, experiences, and advice. They can also create and support networks and communities of women and girls in science, which can provide mutual support, guidance, and opportunities.

Actions and Strategies

To achieve the full potential and benefits of women and girls in science leadership, there is a need for concerted and coordinated actions and strategies from various stakeholders, such as governments, international organizations, academic institutions, civil society, private sector, and media. Some of these actions and strategies are:

Improving access and quality of science education: There is a need to improve the access and quality of science education for women and girls, especially in rural and marginalized areas. This can be done through providing adequate infrastructure, resources, and scholarships, as well as ensuring gender-sensitive and inclusive curricula, teaching methods, and assessment, which can encourage and support women and girls to pursue science subjects and careers.

Creating enabling and supportive environments: There is a need to create enabling and supportive environments for women and girls in science, both in academic and professional settings. This can be done through implementing and enforcing policies and measures that can address the structural and institutional constraints that women and girls face, such as childcare, parental leave, flexible work arrangements, career development opportunities, funding, networks, and recognition.

Conclusion

Women and girls in science leadership are vital for the advancement of science and the achievement of sustainable development and social justice. However, they still face many challenges and inequalities in accessing and leading science, due to socio-cultural norms and stereotypes, educational barriers and biases, and structural and institutional constraints. To overcome these challenges and harness the benefits and opportunities of women and girls in science leadership, there is a need for concerted and coordinated actions and strategies from various stakeholders, such as raising awareness and challenging stereotypes, improving access and quality of science education, and creating enabling and supportive environments.

About the Author

I am Divyanshi Sengar student of B.A LLB(1 YEAR)