Janina León explains that women face challenges practically in all disciplines of knowledge, both in their professional practice and in their academic development. She adds that there are special challenges for women in natural and social sciences (with an emphasis on economics discipline).
In this sense, she explains that “there is a large disparity in the recruitment of women in academia despite the almost full gender parity in the graduation of men and women.” On the other hand, she points out that the presence of women researchers in the natural and social sciences is very small in institutions outside Lima Metropolitana.
However, she confirms that, in recent years, there have been important advances, greatly thanks to the visible contributions that many women have been making in various public and private spaces. “Women researchers have been influential not only by studies and their papers, but also by their actions in public policies in the country,” she says.
Women researchers have been influential not only by studies and their papers, but also by their actions in public policy in the country.”
Janina León, Ph.D.
Head of the Academic Department of Economics
In that scenario, Doctor León explains that there have been public policy efforts that may have driven women's advances in the fields. “Some initiatives at Concytec were strengthened, with support from international cooperation (from UK, through mentoring trainings),” she adds.
Finally, she explains that there is space for policies with funding for specific agendas and strengthening mentoring, “which could strengthen the presence of women through their high-quality research and the dissemination of those skills to empower other women.”
“Despite the participation of women in research has grown, prejudices and stereotypes persist that, many times, relegate them to supporting functions or tasks in research, and do not allow them to be given leading roles in it,” says Patricia Ames.
She points out that, according to the SUNEDU's report, only 27.7% of research professors registered in Renacyt are women, while 72.3% are men. “Encouraging more women to join and remain in research being able to hold leadership positions is another unresolved challenge,” she explains.
Encouraging more women to join and remain in research being able to hold leadership positions is another unresolved challenge.”
Patricia Ames, Ph.D.
Professor of the Academic Department of Social Science
In addition, she explains that the growth of women's presence in science usually has high personal and family price; “therefore, offering the necessary support for the women's participation to continue growing is important.”
She emphasizes that women's struggles were the main driver of this advance. And while she points out that our society has been transforming, she indicates that “many prejudices and stereotypes still exist slowing down or hindering the development of scientific activity among women, as well as practices that burden them with household chores more than their male counterparts and supporting tasks in their workplace.”
Paola Vera points out that one of the challenges for women is to be aware of the contradiction in which they find themselves: “We belong to a small group of women who have had access to higher and private education, which allows us to enunciate ourselves from the academia. This gives us certain advantages over all women and their situation in Peru. But on the other hand, the visibility of our work is still a disadvantage compared to male production.”
It is important to strengthen women's empowerment in creative spaces because it leads to other narratives or approaches on how to represent certain situations or contexts.”
Mag. Paola Vela
Paola Vela, Professor of the Academic Department of Art and Design
Although she indicates that, in visual arts, a large number of female professors and students is found, disparities continue. However, optimism should not be lost. With regard to this, she says. “This is achieved through the combination of political work and struggles of women themselves, in a society like Peru's, which has been always at the rear in the application of equality rights.”
Finally, Mag. Vela says that it is important to strengthen women's empowerment in creative spaces “because it leads to other narratives or approaches on how to represent certain situations or contexts, or how we represent ourselves, for example.”
Suyeon Kim says women's participation in science and technology is growing rapidly “because barriers are breaking down and there is a lot of willingness to devote their professional capacity to research.”
In addition, the number of female students and researchers in laboratories and graduate schools is increasing every year and, in several specialties, there are even more women working than men. “In the publication of research papers regarding quality and quantity, differences are decreasing and it is common to find outstanding female researchers in all areas of science and technology,” she says.
We are responsible of being great researchers, to generate high-impact knowledge and to transcend, but at the same time we have a great responsibility to lay the foundations and open the doors to the next generation of women.”
Suyeon Kim, Ph.D.
Professor of the Academic Department of Engineering
She explains that science and technology have an exponential development. Therefore, its value as a space for the promotion of women. "We are responsible of being great researchers, to generate high-impact knowledge and to transcend, but at the same time we have a great responsibility to lay the foundations and open the doors to the next generation of women. New students and future researchers who are willing to devote their profession to science and technology must be guided in the right direction."
