GENDER, DECOLONISATION, EDUCATION AND TRANSFORMATION OF GENDER RELATIONS  BY  LUCY WAIRIMU KIBERA

An examination of literature on gender inequality has revealed that most women are disadvantaged in education as they constitute two thirds of the 750 million illiterates in the world. In addition, only one third of women have studied Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics subjects that lead to financially rewarding careers compared to social-science related subjects that are studied by most women. Women are also underrepresented in research and development and professional ranks at university with 28.8 and 25 percent respectively. Women are further marginalized in terms of land ownership at 20% and in labour market at 48.5 percent compared to males with 75 percent. In addition, women earn less by 23 percent for a similar job performed by men. Women’s work mainly involves domestic work which is unpaid for. On the whole, women work nearly one hour longer than men since those who work for paid employment have to combine it with domestic work. In addition, only 11 and 12 women are heads of states and governments respectively out of 190 nations globally while only 22.8 percent of all national parliamentarians are women. Finally, health of women is endangered because they are not in charge of their reproductive health. Generally, girls and women are prone to sexual harassment and physical violence at 38 percent. In decolonising and degendering the gender divide and inequalities, social institutions such as the family, school and government must embrace new belief systems that give equal opportunities to women and men to develop their potentials to the fullest for self-development, fulfilment and determination and the benefit of the whole society.

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Influencia familiar en la elección de carreras STEM (Ciencia, tecnología, ingeniería y matemáticas) en estudiantes de bachillerato

Revista de Investigación Educativa ◽

10.6018/rie.366311 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 38 (2) ◽

pp. 515-531

Author(s):

Karla Cristina Avendaño Rodríguez ◽

Deneb Eli Magaña Medina ◽

Pedro Flores Crespo

Keyword(s):

High School Students ◽

Early Age ◽

School Students ◽

Interest In Science ◽

Probabilistic Sampling ◽

Science Technology ◽

Older Brothers ◽

The Family ◽

And Mathematics ◽

Capital Humano

La sociedad experimenta cambios científicos y tecnológicos que están obligando a las economías a centrar su atención en la formación de capital humano con un perfil en ciencia, tecnología, ingeniería y matemáticas (STEM por sus siglas en inglés). Elegir una carrera es una decisión de tipo individual y familiar, este artículo tiene como objetivo conocer la influencia de la familia (madre o tutora, padre o tutor y hermanos) en la elección de carreras STEM en estudiantes de segundo y sexto semestre de bachillerato. Se entrevistó a 1 mil 759 estudiantes de seis bachilleratos distintos, a través de un muestreo no probabilístico, por cuotas. Los resultados muestran que la madre o tutora es la figura que más influye en la elección de una carrera STEM en comparación con el padre o tutor. Se pensó que los hermanos podrían tener un efecto mayor en los estudiantes, no obstante, los resultados muestran que no es significativo que tengan o no hermanos y que estos puedan influir en la elección de carrera. Sin embargo, es necesario profundizar más en el estudio de los hermanos mayores que egresan de carreras STEM y el efecto que esto tiene en la elección de los hermanos menores, aspecto que no se abordó en la investigación. El estudio no profundizo en variables como: el tipo de carrera y el rol laboral que desempeñan los padres y si está o no relacionado con las áreas STEM. Se concluye que las familias deben realizar actividades no formales que ayuden a despertar el interés en la ciencia y aumentar su capital cultural desde edades tempranas. Society experiences scientific and technological changes that are forcing economies to focus their attention on the development of human capital with a profile in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This article aims to demonstrate the influence of the family (mother or guardian father or guardian and siblings) on the choice of STEM careers in high school students during their second and sixth semester, since choosing a career is an individual and family decision. A total of 1,759 students from six different high schools were interviewed, through a non-probabilistic sampling, by quotas. The results show that the mother or guardian is the figure that most influences the choice of a STEM career compared to the father or guardian. It was thought that siblings could have a greater effect on students, however, the results show that it is not significant that they have siblings or that siblings can influence their choice. However, it is necessary to go deeper into the study of older brothers who graduate from STEM degrees and the effect this has on the younger brother’s election, an aspect that was not addressed in the investigation. The study did not delve into variables such as the type of career and the labor role played by parents and whether or not it is related to STEM areas. In conclusion, families must carry out non-formal activities that help awaken interest in science and increase their cultural capital from an early age.

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Arab Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Fields: The Way Forward

World Journal of Education ◽

10.5430/wje.v7n6p12 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 7 (6) ◽

pp. 12 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Samira I. Islam

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Tertiary Education ◽

Economic Benefits ◽

Women In Science ◽

Arab State ◽

Arab Women ◽

Equal Opportunities ◽

Arab Region ◽

Science Technology ◽

And Mathematics

In most countries of the world, 40 to 50 % of students are women. However, there is greater sex imbalance in STEMfields. Indicators show that tertiary education in Arab region is high compared with gender balance in severalcountries; there is even imbalance in favor of women as in Saudi Arabia & Gulf States.UNESCO and World Bank statistics reveal that Arab women actively pursuing STEM fields e.g. in 2014, womencomprises 59% of total students enrolled in computer Science in Saudi Arabia while UK and USA women enrolmentwere 16% and 14% respectively.Graduate women attempt to pursue career or postgraduate degrees are often excluded on bases of their gender andmarginalized therefore much less apt to enter and remain in the job, few achieve leadership positions.In principle, there are equal opportunities for both genders in many Arab States, but social perception and prejudicedetermine which types of employment are particularly suitable for women or men. Removing the barriers wouldfoster major social and economic benefits for every Arab State.

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Is It Time for a Revolution in Work‒Life Balance? Reflections from Spain

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12229563 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (22) ◽

pp. 9563

Author(s):

Rocío Rodríguez-Rivero ◽

Susana Yáñez ◽

Celia Fernández-Aller ◽

Ruth Carrasco-Gallego

Keyword(s):

Gender Inequality ◽

Gender Gap ◽

Work Life ◽

Stem Careers ◽

Life Balance ◽

Science Technology ◽

Digital Divides ◽

The World ◽

And Mathematics ◽

The Impact

The COVID-19 crisis has taken the world by surprise, and its effects are widening pre-existing inequalities such as socioeconomical, educational, and digital divides. The gender gap is no exception, and research shows that lockdowns are strongly impacting women, who, on the whole, are more vulnerable to the effects of a crisis. This study analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown in Spain on families, from a gender perspective. To this end, 663 participants related to the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields were recruited to participate in the research through their connection with the Equality Office of the major technical university of Spain, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, which offers most engineering and architecture degrees. The results indicate that the great myths of gender inequality are still alive in Spain, and that a crisis of this nature can perpetuate them. However, the crisis also presents an opportunity for change. Will the STEM careers be prepared to take advantage of this opportunity, or will this crisis end up perpetuating their markedly masculine character? Are we ready for a revolution? The COVID-19 crisis and its learnings about the importance of care can open the path to change.

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Las mujeres y las ingenierías

iQual Revista de Género e Igualdad ◽

10.6018/iqual.448641 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-17

Author(s):

María José Lucas Bermúdez ◽

Djamil Tony Kahale Carrillo ◽

Beatriz Miguel Hernández

Keyword(s):

Family Environment ◽

Women Scientists ◽

Guidance Counselors ◽

Stem Careers ◽

Teenage Girls ◽

Science Technology ◽

The Family ◽

Labor Discrimination ◽

Las Mujeres ◽

And Mathematics

Es necesario reflexionar sobre la preocupación existente de por qué las mujeres prefieren carreras de tipo Sanitario, Ciencias Sociales o Jurídicas a las carreras STEM, acrónimo de Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Son varias las cuestiones que debemos plantearnos para entender cuáles son los motivos por los cuales las mujeres prefieren estas carreras a las carreras STEM, entre ellos, se encuentran la cuestión cultural; por otro lado, están los estereotipos establecidos desde el nacimiento, el papel que juega el entorno familiar en el apoyo que puedan encontrar, el que juegan los centros educativos. Resulta fundamental que desde los institutos los orientadores y el profesorado apoyen a las chicas a estudiar aquellas disciplinas; otra cuestión es la falta de referentes femeninos y la visibilidad que se le da a la mujer científica, así como su reconocimiento, incluso la discriminación laboral existente frente a los hombres, o la baja posibilidad de conciliación de la vida laboral y personal en el entorno industrial. Por tanto, es primordial motivar a las adolescentes al fomentar las vocaciones STEM y para ello es necesario establecer políticas encaminadas a impulsar dichas vocaciones, divulgar y dar a conocer mujeres científicas, matemáticas, ingenieras o arquitectas. It is necessary to reflect on the existing concern as to why women prefer careers in Health, Social Sciences or Law to STEM careers, an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. There are several questions that we must ask ourselves in order to understand the reasons why women prefer these careers to STEM careers, among them, the cultural question; on the other hand, there are the stereotypes established from birth, the role played by the family environment in the support they can find, the role played by educational centers. It is essential that from the institutes the guidance counselors and teachers support girls to study those disciplines; another issue is the lack of female references and the visibility given to women scientists, as well as their recognition, even the existing labor discrimination against men, or the low possibility of reconciling work and personal life in the industrial environment. Therefore, it is essential to motivate teenage girls by promoting STEM vocations and for this it is necessary to establish policies aimed at promoting such vocations, disseminating and making known women scientists, mathematicians, engineers or architects.

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STEM EDUCATION AND GENDER: A CONTRIBUTION TO DISCUSSIONS IN BRAZIL

Cadernos de Pesquisa ◽

10.1590/198053145644 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 49 (171) ◽

pp. 130-159 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Elisabete Regina Baptista de Oliveira ◽

Sandra Unbehaum ◽

Thais Gava

Keyword(s):

Gender Equality ◽

Stem Education ◽

Gender Inequality ◽

Critical Reflection ◽

Exact Science ◽

Education Resources ◽

Science Technology ◽

Information Center ◽

And Gender ◽

And Mathematics

Abstract This article presents reflections on gender equality in secondary education, particularly regarding the inclusion of female youths in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Our empirical source for these reflections was a review of studies indexed in the Education Resources Information Center (ERIC) database. Using the concept of gender as part of the analysis of women’s access to these areas, 55 articles were selected and divided into four groups. Considering that, in recent years, Brazil has launched several initiatives to promote women’s access to exact science programs, learning about research in other countries may contribute to a critical reflection on how gender inequality may be addressed.

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Campaigns for women’s freedom from violence

Sexual Politics of Gendered Violence and Women's Citizenship ◽

10.1332/policypress/9781447337782.003.0007 ◽

2018 ◽

pp. 147-170

Author(s):

Suzanne Franzway ◽

Nicole Moulding ◽

Sarah Wendt ◽

Carole Zufferey ◽

Donna Chung

Keyword(s):

Violence Against Women ◽

Gender Inequality ◽

Gender Relations ◽

Social Institutions ◽

Relationship With God ◽

Dominant Position ◽

The Family ◽

Women's Psychology ◽

Political Understanding ◽

Abusive Men

This chapter shows that feminists themselves have struggled with the obstacles created by the fitful and damaging politics of ignorance that help to sustain gender inequality. Whether unequal gender relations are merely natural, or whether men's identity depends on maintaining their dominant position as patriarch of the family by necessary force, or whether somehow women's psychology or childhood socialisation leads them to attract abusive men into their lives, or whether women need to learn how to manage their violent partner for the sake of the marriage, the children or their relationship with god are all questions that feminists have needed to work through. And, the chapter argues, this work must continue. The discursive effects of a politics of ignorance about violence against women have an impact on women as much as on men, and on our social and political understanding of violence as much as on social institutions and the state.

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Work Engagement and Research Output Among Female and Male Scientists

Journal of Personnel Psychology ◽

10.1027/1866-5888/a000150 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 55-65 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Lonneke Dubbelt ◽

Sonja Rispens ◽

Evangelia Demerouti

Keyword(s):

Work Engagement ◽

Research Output ◽

Research Performance ◽

Daily Work ◽

Time Control ◽

Science Technology ◽

And Performance ◽

And Mathematics ◽

Number Of Publications ◽

The Relationship

Abstract. Women have a minority position within science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and, consequently, are likely to face more adversities at work. This diary study takes a look at a facilitating factor for women’s research performance within academia: daily work engagement. We examined the moderating effect of gender on the relationship between two behaviors (i.e., daily networking and time control) and daily work engagement, as well as its effect on the relationship between daily work engagement and performance measures (i.e., number of publications). Results suggest that daily networking and time control cultivate men’s work engagement, but daily work engagement is beneficial for the number of publications of women. The findings highlight the importance of work engagement in facilitating the performance of women in minority positions.

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