The United Nations has emphasized the urgent need for accelerated efforts toward achieving gender equality in the field of science, highlighting its crucial role in shaping a better future.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered this message on the occasion of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, observed annually on February 11th.
Guterres underscored the importance of acknowledging the rightful place of women and girls in the scientific community, stressing that their inclusion fuels innovation and enables them to realize their full potential. The theme for this year’s International Day, designated by UNESCO and UN Women, focuses on “Closing the Gender Gap in Science.”
Expressing concern over persisting systemic barriers and biases hindering women and girls from pursuing scientific careers, Guterres lamented the ongoing challenges they face.
Despite global efforts, statistics show that women make up only about one-third of scientific researchers worldwide, a proportion that has seen minimal change in the past decade and varies across different regions.
According to the latest data from the UNESCO Institute of Statistics, this ranges from 23% of female researchers in head counts in South Asia to 27% in Southeast Asia, 32% in sub-Saharan Africa, 34% in the European Union, 41% in the Arab States, 44% in Latin America and the Caribbean, 47% in Central Asia and 52% in Southeast Europe.
However, not all countries have reliable data, limiting reporting on the extent of gender gaps in science. In the dataset gathered by the UNESCO Institute of Statistics, 98 countries have not supplied data for the period 2018 to 2021.
Gender disparities across scientific fields
The gender gap within scientific disciplines remains a persistent challenge, with the disparities particularly pronounced in engineering and computer science. Recent data from 2018 reveals that globally, women comprised only 28% of engineering graduates and 40% of computer science graduates.
Even in high-income countries, the representation of women in post-graduate physics positions has stagnated, hovering just below 20% according to Nature Reviews Physics.
These trends underscore a broader pattern: women continue to be underrepresented in fields critical to driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution and shaping the future job market. For instance, in artificial intelligence, women make up a mere 22% of professionals.
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UN Secretary-General António Guterres has condemned this situation, describing it not only as detrimental to the societies affected but also as a grave violation of human rights. Efforts to address these disparities must be prioritized to ensure inclusivity and equitable opportunities for all.
Guterres underscores the imperative of ensuring equal participation of women and girls in scientific discoveries and innovations. “Whether it’s in addressing climate change, improving health outcomes, or advancing artificial intelligence, it is crucial that women are fully involved,” he emphasized. “This inclusive approach is the cornerstone for ensuring that the benefits of scientific progress reach everyone.”
Call for Action
In a related development, UNESCO unveiled a Call for Action titled “Closing the Gender Gap in Science” on February 11, 2024. The initiative offers a comprehensive set of recommendations designed to address the underlying factors contributing to gender-based disparities in the field of science. Furthermore, it outlines best practices aimed at translating these recommendations into tangible actions.
UNESCO noted that the gender gap in science is not due to inherent differences between genders or linked to a nation’s economic status. Instead, it reflects various societal factors and systemic barriers impeding women and girls’ access to scientific professions.
The International Body Identified some of the barriers including social, cultural and gender norms which guide expectations and roles and which generate low levels of self-efficacy, lack of visible role models, underrepresentation in leadership roles, poorly qualified teachers, unsupportive learning environments and inadequate professional structures and work cultures.
UNESCO emphasized that achieving gender equality in science, including breaking the glass ceiling for leadership roles, is attainable and within reach, not a distant goal.
It said to achieve this goal, it is imperative to emphasize concerted multistakeholder action across all sectors, both public and private. This involves:
- Challenging Gender Stereotypes and Biases in Science; by increasing the visibility of female role models.
- Facilitating Opportunities for Girls in Science; through innovative and inspiring educational strategies and initiatives.
- Establishing Supportive Workplace Environments for Women Scientists; through the implementation of policies and actions that foster inclusion, diversity, and equity.
