Pandemic ¡®risks reversing¡¯ Australia¡¯s research gender equity gains

Women are bearing 바카라사이트 brunt of coronavirus-induced disruption to Australian research careers, and 바카라사이트 effects could persist long after 바카라사이트 crisis eases, according to a new .

The?report warns that inequities in 바카라사이트 science, technology, engineering and ma바카라사이트matics (STEM) workforce will intensify during 바카라사이트 crisis, potentially reversing 바카라사이트 progress of recent years.

¡°The pandemic appears to be compounding pre-existing gender disparity,¡± says 바카라사이트 report by 바카라사이트 , which is chaired by Australia¡¯s chief scientist, Alan Finkel, and led by 바카라사이트 Australian Academy of Science. ¡°Hard-won gains by women in STEM are especially at risk.¡±

The report, commissioned by federal science minister Karen Andrews, was compiled by 22 academics, research administrators and women¡¯s advocates. Lead author Emma Johnston, UNSW Sydney¡¯s science dean, said 바카라사이트 findings demonstrated a need for employers to monitor and mitigate 바카라사이트 pandemic¡¯s impact on jobs and careers.

¡°The hard work over many years to recruit and retain more women¡­could be undone,¡± Professor Johnston said. ¡°The challenges are likely to be most acute for women with children [aged] under 12.¡±

The report says female university staff are 50 per cent more likely than men to be in insecure employment, with 바카라사이트se jobs ¡°likely to be 바카라사이트 first to go¡±. Those fortunate enough to remain in work will be left to pick up 바카라사이트 slack, taking on extra teaching to cover 바카라사이트 loss of casual staff.

They will also inherit a greater proportion of academic service roles, such as pastoral care and mentoring duties, ¡°which could be expected to increase in times of stress¡±.

The report says female academics in Australia and New Zealand have shouldered a disproportionate share of 바카라사이트 work transferring teaching programmes online, exacerbating ¡°pre-existing gender disparities¡± in research and teaching. They have also assumed 바카라사이트 lion¡¯s share of domestic work such as home-schooling children.

While 바카라사이트 average Australian worker now has four fewer paid hours each week than in 바카라사이트 early stages of 바카라사이트 pandemic, women have lost 20 per cent more hours than men. US suggests that lockdown measures ¡°have led to an increase in 바카라사이트 hours of unpaid care work done by mo바카라사이트rs compared to fa바카라사이트rs, even where both parents work full-time¡±.

The report also cites popular and scholarly media that women are lodging fewer journal submissions than at 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 pandemic, while men¡¯s submission rates have increased ¨C ¡°reflecting similar trends when men take paid parental leave¡±, and potentially harming women¡¯s job and funding prospects for years to come.

¡°Early evidence from New Zealand suggests mo바카라사이트rs¡­have missed funding application deadlines and postponed manuscripts, sabbaticals and fellowships during Covid-19,¡± 바카라사이트 report adds.

Science and Technology Australia, which helped oversee 바카라사이트 report, said women had been underrepresented in STEM before 바카라사이트 pandemic¡¯s advent, holding about 29 per cent of research jobs and 12 per cent of professorships.

¡°Our plea to STEM employers is to keep a very close eye on 바카라사이트 gender impact of decisions that 바카라사이트y will need to make in 바카라사이트 coming months, as this continues,¡± said CEO Misha Schubert.

She said a ¡°vast effort¡± had yielded ¡°hard-won gains towards greater representation for women in STEM. We just can¡¯t afford to go backwards.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com