Communications of the ACM
Women 'under-Represented' in Emerging Nations' S&t
In South Africa, 28 percent of science academy members were women in 2010, while in most other countries women represented less than 12 percent of science academy members.
Credit: R. Zurba / USAID
Countries leading in technological advancement have failed to open up their knowledge societies to women, according to a recent report from Women in Global Science & Technology (WIGSAT). The consulting group examined female scientific enrollment and employment and work-related policies in emerging economies such as Brazil, India, Indonesia, Korea, and South Africa, as well as the United States and the European Union. In these key economies, women account for less than one-third of the computer science, engineering, and physics fields.
"Numbers of women in the science, technology, and innovation fields are alarmingly low in the world's leading economies, and are actually on the decline in many, including the United States," the report says. Although women accounted for 28 percent of science academy members in South Africa in 2010, women represented less than 12 percent in most other countries.
The study notes that countries do not have adequate policies and social support for women and lack sex disaggregated data. Brazil ranked highest in supportive policies and employment of women.
The countries are not "taking full advantage of women in the knowledge sector," says WIGSAT executive director Sophia Huyer.
From AllAfrica
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