Global water news March 2013

Abstract

W omen and girls run the risk of being left behind in scientific and technological fields if countries do not put measures in place to address discrimination and change traditional attitudes. This is according to the United Nations (UN), which warned that this gap constitutes an obstacle to nations’ progress. “Women tend to be overrepresented in the humanities and social sciences, and underrepresented in science and technologies, said Claude Akpokavie of the UN International Labour Organisation’s (ILO’s) Bureau for Workers’ Activities. “Measures need to be put in place to redress this imbalance. ” According to ILO, the gap between men and women in the scientific and technological fields is linked to pervasive gender roles and attitudes in different societies – visible in both developed and developing countries – which encourages girls to pursue ‘softer’ subjects. Investigations have uncovered gender discrepancies in a number of countries around the world, which are hindering women’s participation in science and technology both at school and at work, the agency noted.

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