UNESCO and G20 Report Urges Urgent Action to Address Gender Inequality in STEM Fields

Over 40% of female STEM students report experiencing sexist behavior, underscoring the additional barriers they face within educational environments.

In collaboration with the G20, UNESCO’s new report, Changing the Equation, underscores the pervasive under-representation and inequalities women face in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). Released as part of the G20 Women’s Empowerment Working Group under Brazil’s presidency, the report calls for immediate and transformative measures to close the gender gap in STEM education and careers.

Limited Progress in Female Representation and Persistent Pay Gaps

The report reveals that over the past 15 years, the representation of women in STEM has increased by only 3%, with women comprising 22% of STEM professionals across G20 countries in 2021, compared to 19% in 2005. In G20 nations with available data, women earn an average of only 88% of the salaries of their male counterparts in STEM, with some earning less than 75% of male wages. Furthermore, women remain underrepresented in critical funding opportunities, accounting for just 37% of scientific grant recipients across thirteen surveyed countries, including ten G20 members.

Gender Inequalities Evident from Schooling to the Workforce

The report notes that gender disparities start early: only 35% of STEM university graduates are women in G20 countries, dropping further in fields like information and communication technologies (29%) and engineering (26%). Over 40% of female STEM students report experiencing sexist behavior, underscoring the additional barriers they face within educational environments.

UNESCO’s Call to Action for Systemic Change

UNESCO urges G20 countries to enact policies that dismantle gender biases in STEM, including integrating gender-sensitive materials in educational curricula and providing equitable career counselling. In addition to advocating for fair compensation, UNESCO stresses the importance of policies that enable women to balance family and professional roles without penalty, alongside initiatives to ensure that female achievements in STEM are properly recognized.

The Changing the Equation report serves as a comprehensive roadmap, pressing G20 nations to champion inclusive, equitable, and supportive frameworks that foster gender equality in STEM, thereby enriching scientific innovation and productivity on a global scale.