Gender Equality Gender Equality Awareness in Science & Awareness in Science &

TechnologyTechnology..

Celebrating National Science day Celebrating National Science day 20102010

Theme:" Gender equality for Theme:" Gender equality for Prosperity & Peace”Prosperity & Peace”

Dr.Shirish Kumthekar .Dr.Shirish Kumthekar .Surgeon & Cancer Specialist Surgeon & Cancer Specialist

SolapurSolapur..

National Science DayNational Science Day..

This day is celebrated in India every yearThis day is celebrated in India every year on 28on 28thth February to mark the Discovery of Raman effect February to mark the Discovery of Raman effect

by Late Scientist C.V.Raman.by Late Scientist C.V.Raman.Nation pays tribute and expresses gratitude to Sir CV Raman and to all Nation pays tribute and expresses gratitude to Sir CV Raman and to all the scientists on this day for their genius and dedication. It is a day, the scientists on this day for their genius and dedication. It is a day,

which attracts many young minds to take up science as their careerwhich attracts many young minds to take up science as their career and a day to see novel scientific achievements. The celebrations of and a day to see novel scientific achievements. The celebrations of

this day include showcasing the country’s competence in the field ofthis day include showcasing the country’s competence in the field of science. The day has become significant as it reminds us thescience. The day has become significant as it reminds us the importance of science in societal transformation. Series of scienceimportance of science in societal transformation. Series of science-related events are also held on this day in the country to inspire-related events are also held on this day in the country to inspire people of all ages to work in the field of science, engineering andpeople of all ages to work in the field of science, engineering and technology. technology.

Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Sir Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman, FRSRaman, FRSBornBorn7 November 7 November

18881888ThiruvanaikoilThiruvanaikoil, , TiruchirappalliTiruchirappalli, , Tamil Tamil NaduNadu, , British British IndiaIndia DiedDied21 21

November 1970 (aged 82)November 1970 (aged 82)BangaloreBangalore, , KarnatakaKarnataka, ,

Sir C.V.Raman.Sir C.V.Raman.

Notable awardsNotable awardsKnightKnight Bachelor Bachelor (1929)(1929)Nobel Prize in PhysicsNobel Prize in Physics (1930) (1930)BharatBharat RatnaRatnaLenin Peace PrizeLenin Peace Prize

Gender Equality Gender Equality AwarenessAwarenessIn Science & Technology.In Science & Technology.

What is Gender ?What is Gender ? GenderGender is the wide set of is the wide set of

characteristics that are characteristics that are seen to distinguish seen to distinguish between between malemale and and femalefemale entities, extending from entities, extending from one's biological one's biological sexsex to, in to, in humans, one's humans, one's social rolesocial role or or gender identitygender identity. As a . As a word, it has more than one word, it has more than one valid definition. In valid definition. In linguisticslinguistics, it refers to , it refers to characteristics of words. In characteristics of words. In ordinary speech, it is used ordinary speech, it is used interchangeably with "interchangeably with "sexsex" " to denote the condition of to denote the condition of being male or female. being male or female.

What is Gender EqualityWhat is Gender Equality

Gender equalityGender equality (also known as (also known as gender equitygender equity, , gender gender egalitarianismegalitarianism, or , or sexual sexual equalityequality) is the goal of the ) is the goal of the equalityequality of the of the gendersgenders or the sexes, or the sexes, stemming from a belief in the stemming from a belief in the injustice of myriad forms of gender injustice of myriad forms of gender inequality.inequality.

World bodies have defined gender equality as World bodies have defined gender equality as related to human rights, especially women's rights, related to human rights, especially women's rights, and economic development. UNICEF defines and economic development. UNICEF defines gender equality as "levelling the playing field for gender equality as "levelling the playing field for girls and women by ensuring that all children have girls and women by ensuring that all children have equal opportunity to develop their talents."equal opportunity to develop their talents."

The United Nations Population Fund declared The United Nations Population Fund declared gender equality "first and foremost, a human right. gender equality "first and foremost, a human right. "Gender equity" is one of the goals of the United "Gender equity" is one of the goals of the United Nations Millennium Project, to end world poverty Nations Millennium Project, to end world poverty by 2015; the project claims, "Every single Goal is by 2015; the project claims, "Every single Goal is directly related to women's rights, and societies directly related to women's rights, and societies where women are not afforded equal rights as men where women are not afforded equal rights as men can never achieve development in a sustainable can never achieve development in a sustainable manner."manner."

Thus, promoting gender equality is seen Thus, promoting gender equality is seen as an encouragement to greater as an encouragement to greater economic prosperity For example, economic prosperity For example, nations of the Arab world that deny nations of the Arab world that deny equality of opportunity to women were equality of opportunity to women were warned in a 2008 United Nations-warned in a 2008 United Nations-sponsored report that this sponsored report that this disempowerment is a critical factor disempowerment is a critical factor crippling these nations' return to the crippling these nations' return to the first rank of global leaders in commerce, first rank of global leaders in commerce, learning and culture.learning and culture.

Gender Equity in Gender Equity in Science and Science and Technology: Does Technology: Does it Matter?it Matter?

The nature of the The nature of the problemproblem

Although differing in the details, Although differing in the details, there was a consensus from all there was a consensus from all regions of the world in the nature of regions of the world in the nature of the gender dimension regarding the gender dimension regarding science and technology and about science and technology and about possible solutions. possible solutions.

1. In many countries, there are 1. In many countries, there are fewer girls than boys that have fewer girls than boys that have access to primary education, fewer access to primary education, fewer girls than boys learn about science. girls than boys learn about science.

Nature of the problem….Nature of the problem….

2. In many countries fewer girls 2. In many countries fewer girls than boys study scientific and than boys study scientific and technological subjects in either technological subjects in either secondary or tertiary education secondary or tertiary education

3. fewer women than men pursue 3. fewer women than men pursue scientific or technological careers, scientific or technological careers, and far fewer reach the top and far fewer reach the top professional, managerial or policy-professional, managerial or policy-making positions. making positions.

Nature of the problem…Nature of the problem…

4. Technological change, especially 4. Technological change, especially that designed to improve the quality of that designed to improve the quality of life in rural areas in developing life in rural areas in developing countries, has been more directed to countries, has been more directed to the tasks that men perform than to the the tasks that men perform than to the tasks women perform, both in and tasks women perform, both in and outside the household. Development outside the household. Development programmes frequently have not programmes frequently have not taken this gender dimension into taken this gender dimension into account.account.

Nature of the Problem…Nature of the Problem…

women and girls continue to be excluded women and girls continue to be excluded from equal participation in science and from equal participation in science and technology in many parts of the world as a technology in many parts of the world as a result of their unequal status in society – result of their unequal status in society – legally, socially, politically and economically. legally, socially, politically and economically. Poverty, lack of education and training and Poverty, lack of education and training and unequal employment opportunities remain unequal employment opportunities remain significant constraints. The exclusion of significant constraints. The exclusion of women and girls occurs in the public sector, women and girls occurs in the public sector, in private sector companies, and in research in private sector companies, and in research institutions.institutions.

What is the situation in What is the situation in India?India?

Our Hon. President recently said…..Our Hon. President recently said….. The best symbol of female values that has

been created by nature is in the form of Mother. Mother is creativity & Innovation personified in solving human problems in the family. She represents excellence , morality & equality. Out of all management experiences in business, profession,public service & society,mother is the best manager nature has created.

1.About 70% of Indian women are illiterate.1.About 70% of Indian women are illiterate.

2.90% of Family plan. operations are done on 2.90% of Family plan. operations are done on females.females.

3.60% of Primary school dropouts are girls.3.60% of Primary school dropouts are girls.

4.Women are grossly underrepresented in 4.Women are grossly underrepresented in science & technology at various levels.science & technology at various levels.

5.Womens share in Science, Medicine, 5.Womens share in Science, Medicine, Engineering studies varies from 10 to 32%Engineering studies varies from 10 to 32%

6.Out of the total women scientist only 6.Out of the total women scientist only 3% are engaged in Research & 3% are engaged in Research & development.development.

7. Less than 2% working women are in 7. Less than 2% working women are in industrial production, managerial job industrial production, managerial job & entrepreneurship.& entrepreneurship.

8.Only 11% Girls are enrolled for 8.Only 11% Girls are enrolled for higher studies in IITs.higher studies in IITs.

Why this problem?Why this problem?

Genderization of Science!Genderization of Science! In the Indian Society the social In the Indian Society the social

discrimination against women starts discrimination against women starts at an early age, right from childhood at an early age, right from childhood the girl is always counseled to learn to the girl is always counseled to learn to be patient, to adapt ,adjust & submit.be patient, to adapt ,adjust & submit.

she is supposed to change her home she is supposed to change her home after marriage &spend a major part of after marriage &spend a major part of life in her husbands family.life in her husbands family.

Preference for the male child & discrimination Preference for the male child & discrimination in his favor is her everyday experiencein his favor is her everyday experience

When the girl grows up due to lack of social When the girl grows up due to lack of social safty,she can not move around as freely as safty,she can not move around as freely as the boys.the boys.

When she marries ,she is supposed to cope When she marries ,she is supposed to cope with three varied roles of being a wife ,a with three varied roles of being a wife ,a mother & managing the household ,in all mother & managing the household ,in all aspects.aspects.

In present days of inflation she is also In present days of inflation she is also supposed to earn money! supposed to earn money!

Why awareness for Gender Why awareness for Gender equality?equality?

1. 1. Human rights and social justiceHuman rights and social justice. . All individuals should have equality All individuals should have equality of opportunity to a science of opportunity to a science education and to a scientific career, education and to a scientific career, and for women and men to benefit and for women and men to benefit equally from advances in science equally from advances in science and technology. and technology.

Why awareness for Gender Why awareness for Gender equality?equality?

2. Scientific and economic reasons2. Scientific and economic reasons. If . If women are not given equal opportunity women are not given equal opportunity to become scientists and engineers then to become scientists and engineers then a country denies itself its full a country denies itself its full complement of scientifically creative complement of scientifically creative minds. This can be a serious handicap minds. This can be a serious handicap both to the development of science and both to the development of science and to the generation of wealth in an to the generation of wealth in an increasingly competitive world. increasingly competitive world.

Why Gender awareness?Why Gender awareness?

3. 3. Social reasonsSocial reasons. Women frequently . Women frequently perform different roles and tasks perform different roles and tasks both within and outside the home to both within and outside the home to those performed by men. It is those performed by men. It is important that both men and important that both men and women are able to bring a scientific women are able to bring a scientific and technical education to bear on and technical education to bear on the performance of these roles and the performance of these roles and tasks. tasks.

Why awareness?Why awareness?

4. 4. Reasons of insightReasons of insight. Some women, it . Some women, it has been suggested, bring different has been suggested, bring different insights, values, motivations and insights, values, motivations and methods of work to their scientific methods of work to their scientific jobs than do most men and other jobs than do most men and other women. The inclusion of more women women. The inclusion of more women in science will enrich the total pool of in science will enrich the total pool of talents, insights and motivations, and talents, insights and motivations, and increase the probability that science increase the probability that science will serve the needs of all humanity.will serve the needs of all humanity.

Gender, Science and Technology for Gender, Science and Technology for

Sustainable Human DevelopmentSustainable Human Development

What can be done?What can be done?1.To ensure basic education for all, with particular 1.To ensure basic education for all, with particular

emphasis on scientific and technological literacy, emphasis on scientific and technological literacy, so that all women and men can effectively use so that all women and men can effectively use science and technology to meet basic needs. science and technology to meet basic needs.

2.To ensure that men and women have equal 2.To ensure that men and women have equal opportunity to acquire advanced training in opportunity to acquire advanced training in science and technology and to pursue careers as science and technology and to pursue careers as technologists, scientists and engineers.technologists, scientists and engineers.

Gender, Science and Technology Gender, Science and Technology for Sustainable Human for Sustainable Human

DevelopmentDevelopment 3. To achieve gender equity within science 3. To achieve gender equity within science

and technology institutions, including and technology institutions, including policy and decision-making bodies. policy and decision-making bodies.

4. To ensure that the needs and 4. To ensure that the needs and aspirations of women and men are aspirations of women and men are equally taken into account in the setting equally taken into account in the setting of research priorities and in the design, of research priorities and in the design, transfer and application of new transfer and application of new technologies. technologies.

Gender, Science and Technology for Gender, Science and Technology for

Sustainable Human DevelopmentSustainable Human Development 5. To ensure all men and women have equal 5. To ensure all men and women have equal

access to the information and knowledge, access to the information and knowledge, particularly scientific and technological particularly scientific and technological knowledge, that they need to improve their knowledge, that they need to improve their standard of living and quality of life.standard of living and quality of life.

6. To recognize local knowledge systems, 6. To recognize local knowledge systems, where they exist, and their gendered nature where they exist, and their gendered nature as a source of knowledge complementary to as a source of knowledge complementary to modern science and technology and also modern science and technology and also valuable for sustainable human valuable for sustainable human development. development.

When a country educates its When a country educates its girls, its mortality rates usually girls, its mortality rates usually fall, fertility rates decline, and fall, fertility rates decline, and the health and education the health and education prospects of the next generation prospects of the next generation improve.improve.

when women are supported and when women are supported and empowered, all of society empowered, all of society benefitsbenefits

To Summarize……To Summarize……

Given the opportunity; women would excel Given the opportunity; women would excel in every field. But the question is can we in every field. But the question is can we give women the necessary education, give women the necessary education, skills, options and a level field play? Can skills, options and a level field play? Can we overcome societal biases against we overcome societal biases against women? Can we fight against social evils women? Can we fight against social evils and discrimination against women? Only if and discrimination against women? Only if the answer to all these questions is in the the answer to all these questions is in the affirmative, will we achieve gender affirmative, will we achieve gender equality,peace & prosperity! equality,peace & prosperity!

Thank You!Thank You!