Is an International Day of Women and Girls in Science necessary?

The UN decided to declare in 2016 the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on February 11.

Let's look at that only six years ago.

The question we can ask ourselves is: was it and still is necessary that there be an international day dedicated to women in science?

Unfortunately, the answer is yes.

Only 30% of people working in science in the world are women;

that percentage rises to 33% if we talk about Europe.

In Spain, according to the latest SHE FIGURES 2021 report, the percentage of female researchers amounts to 40.5%.

In general terms, the research careers of women tend to have more difficulties than those of their male colleagues in terms of promotion, as well as being shorter.

Only 24% of chairs in Spanish public universities are held by women, and 27% are research professors (the equivalent of full professor) at the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC).

Recent studies have shown that girls, from very early ages, perceive themselves as less bright and capable than their male peers for scientific careers.

Aspect that is confirmed in the PISA reports (OECD, 2015) in 15-year-olds, in which they declare themselves more insecure and more afraid of not meeting expectations in the field of science and mathematics.

A concern at European level is the low rate of bachelor's, master's and doctorate studies for women in the so-called STEM careers (initials in English of science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

In Spain, the percentage of women who complete these studies at universities does not reach 30%.

In the Europe of Twenty-seven,

Undoubtedly, boys and girls (and young people) have to, and must, freely choose their preferences and future study options;

The important thing is that this choice is free from all prejudice and external conditions.

It is shown that the choice of higher education is largely based on self-perceived efficacy in subjects such as mathematics and science and that girls, having similar or better academic results than their peers, do not see themselves as qualified for STEM professions.

It is evident that there is a gender bias when choosing studies and professions.

There are many stereotypes that keep women away from these technical careers, which are also those that will require more qualified personnel in the digital world in which we are immersed.

To try to eliminate (or reduce) these biases, it is necessary that the whole of society is involved in equality policies;

from families, schools, the media... It has been proven that equality and science should be worked on from a very early age, and that when girls and boys are educated in science from an early age, they have fewer biases and they see scientific and technical careers more naturally.

We must work to generate a social environment to persuade one's own abilities,

through support in families and in the educational field, and providing close and accessible professional models, as the CSIC does in its different campaigns.

The scientific training of teachers is also very important and crucial to achieve these goals.

A recent report of the program El CSIC en la Escuela

has demonstrated this.

The CSIC has been and is a pioneer in Spain in equality policies in science, in line with European priorities and recommendations on gender equality in research, and it is demonstrated, among other facets, by the fact that, 20 years ago, the Women and Science Commission (CMyC), which has been and is the engine of equality in the institution.

Being an advisory commission of the presidency, it carries out diagnostic studies, with updated statistics disaggregated by sex of the research staff, proposes actions to improve or solve problems of inequality, supports and makes visible the CSIC researchers, among many other actions.

Recently, at the initiative of the CMyC, the CSIC is going to implement 10 positive actions,

We have to be very clear that the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 5 of the 2030 Agenda has as its mission to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.

It is a specific and transversal objective to the rest of the objectives of the Agenda.

Gender equality is not only a fundamental human right, it is essential to building a more peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world.

Francisca Puertas Maroto

is Research Professor and Executive Vice President of the Women and Science Commission of the CSIC. 

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