According to UNESCO's flagship report, entitled: "Cracking the Code: girls' and women's
education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)" (2019),
only 35% of students enrolled in STEM-linked careers in higher education are
women.
Traditionally, certain careers such as mechanical
engineering, civil engineering, electrical engineering, among others, have been
considered by society as careers for men, which is why there was a low presence
of women studying in them.
A research by the University of Chile, in
its article entitled: "Why is there
low participation of women in mathematics and science careers? "(2020) and, the Latin American
Pact for Education with Human Quality, in its article: "The participation of women in STEM is low:
Social exclusion or own choice? " (2021), agree that the low presence
of women in STEM derives from social expectations that include gender stereotypes
and that influence the share of women's participation, the level of confidence
in their abilities to develop within STEM areas, as well as, their decision not
to continue with the career.
Currently, these stereotypes are gradually
disappearing, thanks to initiatives, programs and projects of international organizations,
among which we can mention the United Nations Organization -UN-, which, in July
2010, created UN Women, the entity for gender equality and women's empowerment;
the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization -UNESCO-,
which in 2015 launched the "SAGA
(STEM and Gender Advancement)" project with the aim of reducing the
gender gap in STEM fields at all levels of education and research; the Organization
for Economic Co-operation and Development -OECD-, which in 2018 presented the
initiative "OECD Toolkit for
Mainstreaming and Implementing Gender Equality", with the aim of
helping governments to promote gender-sensitive public policy goals and
development; and, the Women United for Education Network -MuxED-, whose goal is
focused on achieving greater participation of women in STEM careers. These
initiatives seek to eradicate gender stereotypes present from education to the
labor and social spheres, although their plans need to extend to inclusive actions
that promote the participation of different industries and not only governments.
But these initiatives are only the tip of the iceberg; gender equality is a long
road that is traveled every day, step by step and working as a team.
Saying that, what is the current situation
regarding women's participation in the energy industry?
For some years now, the energy industry has
been committed to the transition to cleaner and more technologically advanced
energy systems, but also to the inclusion of women in the development of these
projects, from different areas of knowledge, to promote a global goal "a
fair energy transition".
In achieving this goal, the work of
international organizations such as the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB),
the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) (formerly known as the Andean
Development Corporation) and the French Development Agency (AFD), which have committed
their efforts to building an energy industry where there is gender equality,
translating into equal participation, rights and opportunities for both men and
women, reflecting teamwork to contribute to the development of efficient
projects for the sustainability of energy systems and to provide quality access
to basic energy services.
For example, the IADB, through its
publication "Gender and energy: an
issue for all" (2018), noted: "Gender equality can be a driver for more effective clean energy
investments. Women often, can play an important role as key drivers of
innovative and inclusive solutions. As such, greater participation of women in
the energy industry is needed for a successful transition to a more sustainable
industry." Likewise, the French Development Agency -AFD-, an
organization committed to the fight for gender equality in all industries and
countries in which it intervenes, in its work: "AFD and Gender: Towards a more egalitarian development" (2021),
reported that in 2020, 67.1% of the projects financed by the agency have a gender
perspective and pointed out that: "(...)
Gender inequality is a factor of injustice but also of poverty: it slows down
economic and social development. (...) Many studies have shown that reducing gender inequalities contributes to
the equitable and sustainable development of countries".
In conclusion, it is important to
understand that inequalities between women and men have socio-cultural origins,
and therefore, can and must be modified. However, this is not the work of a
single person or organization, but requires collaboration between various parties,
both from the public and private industries, capable of seeing that the
sustainable development of a strategic and economic industry is achieved by
breaking down those cultural and social barriers that prevent equitable growth and
promoting teamwork, a team with gender equity, with the same rights and
opportunities.
Therefore, I invite all female readers to
pursue their dreams, believe in themselves and their abilities and fight until
reaching their goals; and I invite all male readers to be part of the change, the
one that seeks equality among people with the same knowledge, skills and
abilities to create a fairer society.
By Johanna Isabel Rodríguez Flores (Cuenca, Ecuador)
Bachelor of Business Administration
Master's Degree in Integrated Management Systems for
Occupational Risk Prevention, Quality, Environment and Corporate Social
Responsibility
Second year of Law School
Professional at Electrical Company Quito - Ecuador
Bibliography:
United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization -UNESCO- (2019).
"Cracking the code: girls' and women's education in science, technology,
engineering and mathematics (STEM)". Retrieved from
https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000366649
Simonsen, E. (2020) Why is there low participation of women
in mathematics and science careers? University of Chile. Retrieved from https://www.uchile.cl/noticias/166324/por-que-hay-menos-mujeres-en-carreras-matematicas-y-ciencias
Garduño, E. (2021). Women's participation in STEM is low: Social
exclusion or own choice? Latin American Pact for Education with Human Quality.
Retrieved from https://palech.org/la-participacion-de-las-mujeres-en-stem-es-baja-exclusion-social-o-eleccion-propia/
Snyder, V., Hallack, M., Larrea, S. (2018). Gender and
energy: an issue for all. Inter-American Development Bank (IADB). Retrieved
from https://publications.iadb.org/publications/spanish/document/GENERO_Y_ENERGIA_UN_TEMA_DE_TODOS_BID.pdf
French Development Agency -AFD- (2021). AFD AND GENDER:
TOWARDS A MORE EGALITARIAN DEVELOPMENT. Retrieved from https://www.afd.fr/es/page-thematique-axe/igualdad-de-genero
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