“Unconscious bias” essentially refers to our tendency to make assumptions without even realizing we’re doing it. It’s about stereotyping groups of people.
One such bias that is hurting women’s and girls’ potential — and in turn, Canada’s
“Unconscious bias” essentially refers to our tendency to make assumptions without even realizing we’re doing it. It’s about stereotyping groups of people.
One such bias that is hurting women’s and girls’ potential — and in turn, Canada’s potential — concerns their aptitude for science and technology. Too often, we assume women and girls lack the innate ability to study science and math. Worse, women and girls may assume this about themselves. As a result, women are under-represented in these areas, despite the valuable contributions they already make and could make.
Another prejudice concerning all fields of research (including social sciences and humanities, arts, psychology, etc.) is that women are less able to lead research teams or large research institutions. In fact, the number of female professors and researchers is lower among the higher levels of the academic hierarchy. According to a study published in 2018 by the Academic Women's Association of the University of Alberta, the representation of women in the research community was as follows: Canada Excellence Research Chairs (3.8%), Canada 150 Research Chairs (58%), Canada Research Chairs Tier 1 (20.7%) and Canada Research Chairs Tier 2 (38.7%).
And if women researchers succeed in publishing in journals almost as cited as those in which men publish, their articles are nevertheless less cited.
It’s time for this to change — not only because change would benefit interested women and girls, but because science and gender equality are crucial for the achievement of sustainable development.
In Canada, women make up 39% of university science and technology graduates aged 25 to 34. The number is even higher in health- and education-related programs, where they make up about 80% of graduates. What this tells us is that plenty of women are succeeding very well in science. But to achieve equity, we need more of them.
Celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science
This February 11, the Canadian Commission for UNESCO, in collaboration with Ingenium, the Association francophone pour le savoir - Acfas, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Canadian Museum of Nature, L'Oréal Canada and many others invite you to celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Events across the country will feature conversations, lectures, activities, discussion panels, movies and more about gender equity in science and how we can combat unconscious bias.
The focus of our campaign is to acknowledge and inspire women and girls by promoting the accomplishments of Canadian female researchers and scientists. From studying fossils to labour law, from founding a startup using AI to manage water to researching neutron stars, these women are the “sheroes” who are smashing bias in social and human sciences and natural sciences. This day is an opportunity to be an ally for women and the girls in science and help break down the stereotypes that hold them back.
Events across Canada
February 9, Ottawa: Edit-A-Thon for Women in STEM
Ingenium - Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation, is pleased to host its first Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon in celebration of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Participants will have the opportunity to edit, add or translate Wikipedia entries for women in STEM.
Interesting fact: while women comprise about 22% of STEM entries in Wikipedia, only ~18% of the English biographies and ~17% of the French biographies are about women. Women are under-represented in the STEM fields but have significant contributions that should be shared widely with the world.
February 11, Saskatoon: Women and Water
Attend the launch of the Women and Water Lecture Series hosted by the Global Institute for Water Secu