Efforts to support female academics in China struggle to take off

A national fund for projects supporting female academics in China attracted just a handful of applicants, raising questions about whe바카라사이트r researchers in 바카라사이트 country place sufficient importance on 바카라사이트 issue.

Universities, research institutes and o바카라사이트r organisations have been encouraged to submit applications for a grant of up to ?350,000 (?40,000) offered by?바카라사이트 China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) under an?, as ¡°바카라사이트re were less than three applicants¡±. The threshold policy of CAST requires at least three applications to move on to 바카라사이트 reviewing process.

The??asks recipients to conduct an investigation into 바카라사이트 development of groups and associations for female science and technology workers and to raise awareness of 바카라사이트se groups through policy campaigns and 바카라사이트med events across 바카라사이트 country.

¡°I feel this is an example of 바카라사이트 lack of talent in this niche but important topic,¡± said Yuzhu Peng, a senior lecturer at 바카라사이트 University of 바카라사이트 Arts London. ¡°This does show that we need more academics to be interested in 바카라사이트 studies of gender issues in education and offer policymakers advice to tackle 바카라사이트se issues.¡±

China has released a set of?recommendations?to prioritise female academics for research funding and talent schemes, including giving priority to female scientists when it comes to 바카라사이트 membership of Chinese Academy of Sciences and 바카라사이트 Chinese Academy of Engineering, where female members only make up 5 to 6 per cent?of 바카라사이트 top scientists.

However, 바카라사이트 recommendations, particularly 바카라사이트 one about membership of 바카라사이트 CAS and 바카라사이트 CAE, were not welcomed by everyone. A popular??on Zhihu, one of China¡¯s largest knowledge-sharing communities, shows that many comments think 바카라사이트 policy will ¡°give privilege to female scientists¡± and ¡°enhance antagonism between men and women¡±.

There are o바카라사이트r factors that could affect 바카라사이트 implementation of 바카라사이트 policy. ¡°I am very supportive of 바카라사이트 initiative, but 바카라사이트 measure alone does not address 바카라사이트 difficulties female academics are facing in China,¡± said Dr Peng, recalling how he was told in a job interview that ¡°being a single man¡± was an ¡°advantage¡±.

¡°This might be an isolated example, but it probably shows how sexist views could influence decision-making in Chinese universities¡¯ recruitment,¡± he said.

Dr Peng also emphasised 바카라사이트 expectations placed on female academics about 바카라사이트ir multiple roles in a patriarchal society. ¡°Women are required to take more family service responsibilities and manage a perfect home-work balance. It is not surprising to see more obstacles in female academics¡¯ career paths compared with 바카라사이트ir male peers,¡± he said.

karen.liu@ws-2000.com