Gender Justice in STEM
A multi-country initiative for Gender Justice in STEM Research in Africa.
GeJuSTA is an IDRC funded programme that is divided across four work streams that are working towards increasing the representation and engagement of women in STEM from Kenya, South Africa, Uganda and Zambia. Forthcoming activities will evaluate how to engage with women in STEM who are situated at cross roads of inequities.
To unlock the full potential of the digital realm for women and minority groups, equitable access to the innovation economy becomes paramount. The persistent innovation gap faced by women and minority communities perpetuates digital inequalities, hindering their active participation. Elevating women and girls beyond mere consumers in the digital economy requires opening doors to innovation spaces.
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) emerge as pivotal avenues for fostering women and girls’ involvement in the innovation economy. Equipping them with appropriate qualifications in STEM disciplines could pave the way for their greater inclusion in innovation processes. However, global figures reveal a scarcity of women and girls in STEM fields, prompting a call for increased investments in educational systems and the creation of inclusive organizational and social structures. Closing the innovation gap through STEM investments holds the promise of enabling more women and girls to actively shape the digital transformations defining their lives.
GeJuSTA focuses explicitly on forging pathways for women researchers in STEM across Africa. As a consortium partner, SPIDER has contributed to evaluating publications and their representation of women in STEM within the region. A striking revelation emerged: while women in STEM exist, their stories seldom find space in scientific publications. This discrepancy prompts reflection—are these stories merely untold or just half the narrative?
Our exploration extended beyond conventional scientific publications, delving into development-focused materials, popular science platforms, grey literature, blogs, and social media. Here, a rich tapestry of women excelling in STEM across varied fields emerged. This revelation underscores a crucial aspect: Western constructs of science, publications, and STEM often overlook women from marginalized backgrounds. Projects like GeJuSTA play a pivotal role in validating and amplifying the voices of these women in STEM on the margins
Latest updates from SPIDER'sResearch
EQUALS-EU Policy brief
How to do gender inclusive innovation What characterises gender-inclusive innovation ecosystems? SPIDER Director, Dr. Caroline Wamala Larsson has written a policy brief based on the research on the innovation sector and gender inclusion made for the EQUALS-EU project. The brief features a gender-inclusive innovation standard, recommendations and key action…