Most societies in the world are patriarchal, meaning that men hold all the power, and women are excluded from the power structure. Traditionally, women have played second fiddle to men in various socio-political and cultural scenarios. While men were the rulers of the land, holders of important jobs and breadwinners for the family, women were mostly confined to the four walls of the home, taking care of children and doing household chores. Many attempts and interventions have been made for bringing about equality between both sexes in the society. February 11 is dedicated to gender equality and celebrated as the International Day for Women and Girls in Science.
Science is one area where men have been dominating for long. A study conducted in 14 countries indicates that the probability of female students of graduating with a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree or Doctor’s degree in science-related field is 18 per cent, 8 per cent and 2 per cent respectively. The study also indicates that in the case of men it is 37 per cent, 18 per cent and 6 per cent. Nations today believe that gender neutrality in science is essential for the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The United Nations declared the International Day solely with the view of ensuring gender equality and empowerment of women and girls in science and technology.
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