Women’s representation in national science academies: An unsettling narrative

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dc.contributor.authorNgila, Dorothy
dc.contributor.authorBoshoff, Nelius
dc.contributor.authorDiab, Roseanne
dc.contributor.authorMalcom, Shirley
dc.contributor.authorThomson, Jennifer
dc.date.accessioned2021-10-08T07:17:46Z
dc.date.available2021-10-08T07:17:46Z
dc.date.issued2017
dc.description.abstractScience academies are well placed to contribute towards strengthening of national systems of innovation through advocating for an increased participation of girls and women in science. To successfully do so, academies would need to overcome challenges faced with regard to women’s representation in their own ranks and women’s resultant full participation in the activities of national science academies. We collected baseline data on the representation of women scientists in the membership and governance structures of national science academies that are affiliated with IAP: the Global Network of Science Academies. Women academy members remained far below parity with men, given that women’s membership was typically about 12%. Women members were better represented in the social sciences, humanities and arts but the corresponding shares rarely exceeded 20%. In the natural sciences and engineering, women’s membership remained well below 10%. On average, the largest share of women members (17%) was associated with academies in Latin America and the Caribbean. The average share of women serving on governing bodies was 20%. To change this unsettling narrative, the importance of academies of science annually collecting, analysing and reporting gender-disaggregated data on membership and activities is highlighted as a key recommendation. Several aspects of women’s representation and participation in national science academies are highlighted for further investigation.
dc.identifier.apacitationNgila, D., Boshoff, N., Diab, R., Malcom, S., & Thomson, J. (2017). Women’s representation in national science academies: An unsettling narrative. <i>South African Journal of Science</i>, 113(43289), 174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34812en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationNgila, Dorothy, Nelius Boshoff, Roseanne Diab, Shirley Malcom, and Jennifer Thomson "Women’s representation in national science academies: An unsettling narrative." <i>South African Journal of Science</i> 113, 43289. (2017): 174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34812en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationNgila, D., Boshoff, N., Diab, R., Malcom, S. & Thomson, J. 2017. Women’s representation in national science academies: An unsettling narrative. <i>South African Journal of Science.</i> 113(43289):174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34812en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn0038-2353
dc.identifier.issn1996-7489
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Ngila, Dorothy AU - Boshoff, Nelius AU - Diab, Roseanne AU - Malcom, Shirley AU - Thomson, Jennifer AB - Science academies are well placed to contribute towards strengthening of national systems of innovation through advocating for an increased participation of girls and women in science. To successfully do so, academies would need to overcome challenges faced with regard to women’s representation in their own ranks and women’s resultant full participation in the activities of national science academies. We collected baseline data on the representation of women scientists in the membership and governance structures of national science academies that are affiliated with IAP: the Global Network of Science Academies. Women academy members remained far below parity with men, given that women’s membership was typically about 12%. Women members were better represented in the social sciences, humanities and arts but the corresponding shares rarely exceeded 20%. In the natural sciences and engineering, women’s membership remained well below 10%. On average, the largest share of women members (17%) was associated with academies in Latin America and the Caribbean. The average share of women serving on governing bodies was 20%. To change this unsettling narrative, the importance of academies of science annually collecting, analysing and reporting gender-disaggregated data on membership and activities is highlighted as a key recommendation. Several aspects of women’s representation and participation in national science academies are highlighted for further investigation. DA - 2017 DB - OpenUCT DP - University of Cape Town IS - 43289 J1 - South African Journal of Science LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PY - 2017 SM - 0038-2353 SM - 1996-7489 T1 - Women’s representation in national science academies: An unsettling narrative TI - Women’s representation in national science academies: An unsettling narrative UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34812 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/34812
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationNgila D, Boshoff N, Diab R, Malcom S, Thomson J. Women’s representation in national science academies: An unsettling narrative. South African Journal of Science. 2017;113(43289):174 - 177. http://hdl.handle.net/11427/34812.en_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Molecular and Cell Biology
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Science
dc.sourceSouth African Journal of Science
dc.source.journalissue43289
dc.source.journalvolume113
dc.source.pagination174 - 177
dc.source.urihttps://dx.doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2017/20170050
dc.subject.othermembership
dc.subject.otherwomen
dc.subject.otherrepresentation
dc.subject.otheracademy governance
dc.subject.othergender-disaggregated data
dc.titleWomen’s representation in national science academies: An unsettling narrative
dc.typeJournal Article
uct.type.publicationResearch
uct.type.resourceJournal Article
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