Igualdad de Género: Desafios de la UNAM

Challenges of UNAM in Gender Equality

Introduction to the Session

• The session focuses on the challenges faced by UNAM regarding gender equality, introduced by Dr. Mónica Quijano.

• Dr. Quijano expresses her honor in collaborating with this important coordination and highlights UNAM's tradition of significant contributions from female academics in gender studies.

Presentations Overview

• Three researchers will discuss the challenges UNAM faces concerning gender issues, emphasizing their extensive work in this field.

• The first speaker, Dr. Anna Bouquet, is introduced as a leading researcher at the Center for Gender Studies at UNAM, specializing in gender studies and higher education.

Key Issues Addressed by Dr. Bouquet

• Dr. Bouquet outlines three dimensions of gender inequality within the university: progress made over time, current inequalities, and future needs.

Dimensions of Gender Inequality

• She categorizes manifestations of gender inequality into two main areas: measurable inequalities (quantitative data on segregation by sex) and less visible forms requiring different research approaches (discrimination, violence against women, division of labor).

Segregation Trends at UNAM

• Discusses vertical segregation showing that as appointment levels increase within the university hierarchy, the number of women decreases significantly.

Horizontal Segregation Insights

• Highlights horizontal segregation across disciplines; more women are found in humanities while fewer are present in scientific research fields.

Professional Roles and Stereotypes

• Notes that professional vocations are heavily influenced by gender roles and stereotypes; traditionally female careers often extend familial responsibilities.

Labor Market Implications

• Emphasizes how educational segregation perpetuates gender inequality in the job market; disparities exist between earnings and recognition among professions dominated by different genders.

Administrative Staff Considerations

• Points out that administrative staff also experience various forms of gender inequality which must be addressed for comprehensive progress.

Conclusion on Leadership Positions

Participation of Women in Collegiate Bodies

Importance of Women's Participation

• The discussion emphasizes the potential for women's participation in collegiate bodies to advance gender parity, highlighting the presence of many qualified women at UNAM.

Evident Inequalities

• The speaker outlines clear inequalities that can be measured through institutional data, linking them to social issues and a complex system of gender order that perpetuates these disparities.

Recent Survey Insights

• A recent survey conducted with the Gender Equity Special Commission reveals significant findings on discrimination, violence against women, and sexual division of labor since its completion in late 2019.

Perception of Discrimination

High Levels of Perceived Discrimination

• The survey results indicate a high perception of discrimination among university students, particularly noting that women perceive more discrimination than men.

LGBTQ+ Discrimination

• There is also a notable perception of discrimination against the LGBTQ+ community within the institutional environment.

Disturbing Comments and Stereotypes

• Students report hearing derogatory comments about women's intelligence and accusations regarding their professional achievements being linked to personal relationships, which stigmatizes female students as change agents.

Gender Bias in Academic Evaluation

Academic Evaluation Challenges

• Gender biases are prevalent in academic evaluations; research indicates that women need significantly higher qualifications than men to be considered equally for postdoctoral scholarships.

Gender-Based Violence

Connection Between Violence and Inequality

• Gender-based violence is framed as a manifestation of gender inequality. Addressing this issue requires progress towards gender equality.

Types of Reported Acts

• The survey identifies 13 different acts ranging from mild sexual comments to severe violations, illustrating the spectrum of harassment experienced by students.

Harassment Experiences Among Students

Higher Incidence Among Women

• Women experience significantly more harassment compared to men. Different populations within the university face unique manifestations based on their dynamics.

Identifying Harassers

• Data shows that most harassers are male, targeting both women and other men.

Fearful Environments for Female Students

Threatening Spaces Identified

• Female students express heightened fear in specific areas such as pathways between buildings and classroom settings due to concerns over harassment and violence.

Division of Labor Based on Gender

Domestic Work Hours Comparison

Social Inequality in Academic Work

Gender Disparities in Time Allocation

• Women dedicate significantly more time than men to academic activities, with female academics working an entire extra week per year compared to their male counterparts.

• This additional time translates to nearly two months of work annually, which men can use for rest or advancing their academic careers, such as writing papers and supervising theses.

Impact on Equality in Public Spaces

• The persistent sexual division of labor creates unequal conditions for women and men in public spaces, making true equality unattainable under current circumstances.

Variations Across Different Populations

• In administrative roles, the disparity is even more pronounced; however, among students, the inequality is less severe due to fewer domestic responsibilities.

• Despite this, female students often contribute more at home or assist their mothers within the household context.

Institutional Changes and Progress

Historical Context of Reforms

• Significant normative advancements have occurred since 2005 with reforms aimed at promoting gender equality within the university system. These include guidelines for equality and protocols addressing violence against women.

Structures Supporting Gender Equality

• Various structures exist within the university dedicated to gender issues:

• Special commissions for gender equity.

• Coordination offices established specifically for addressing gender-related violence since 2020.

Academic Contributions and Research

• The UNAM boasts a critical mass of over 200 academics specializing in gender studies and feminism, contributing significantly to research output with over 1,000 theses focused on these topics.

Future Directions in Gender Studies

Institutionalization vs Transversalization

• Institutionalization refers to embedding norms and legislative changes into institutional frameworks.

• Transversalization involves ensuring that these norms permeate all university practices and functions effectively reaching communities. This approach aims to enhance overall academic excellence through gender equality initiatives.

Cultural Aspirations from Academia

The Role of Gender in Science and Academia

Historical Context of Gender Studies

• Groups of female scientists, academics, and students have formed networks that drive political and philosophical changes regarding gender inclusion in research and science policy.

• Women's studies emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, primarily within social sciences and humanities like philosophy, psychology, anthropology, and sociology.

• By the late 1980s, a new field called science and gender studies began to develop within natural sciences (biological, biomedical, physical), complementing existing social science efforts.

Impact of Feminist Theory on Research

• Gender studies have significantly influenced empirical data collection methodologies by introducing innovative practices that reconstruct previously overlooked concepts.

• A central criterion is to analyze research processes from women's life experiences to highlight their unique perspectives.

Barriers to Women's Participation in Higher Education

• Women historically entered higher education much later than men; universities were largely inaccessible until the late 19th century.

• Marie Curie serves as an emblematic figure representing early female integration into scientific fields but highlights ongoing gender disparities in disciplines like engineering and mathematics.

Trends in Educational Attainment

• Despite equal representation at undergraduate levels (50/50), women's numbers decline at higher educational tiers due to systemic barriers.

• The "leaky pipeline" metaphor illustrates how women drop out of academic pathways as they progress through advanced degrees.

Current Statistics on Women in Research

• According to UNESCO data from 2019, only 30% of global researchers are women—a statistic that has remained stagnant despite various initiatives aimed at increasing female participation.

Factors Influencing Women's Advancement

• Research indicates persistent stereotypes and gender roles hinder women's advancement in academia; bibliometric studies reveal publication trends over the last decade.

• Collaborative efforts among mathematicians aim to teach math differently to engage girls more effectively by countering negative stereotypes about their capabilities.

Socialization Effects on Girls' Interests

• From a young age, societal expectations lead girls to lose interest in fields like math due to perceived incompatibility with traditional female roles.

Challenges Faced by Women Researchers

• Those who pursue research often encounter discrimination or exclusionary practices within academic institutions.

Community Initiatives for Change

Incentivizing Young Women in Science

Promoting Scientific Careers for Young Women

• The initiative aims to encourage young women to pursue careers in science and technology, showcasing the existence of female scientists through books and videos presented at educational institutions.

• Recent proposals include establishing mentorship programs and dignified retreats for academic women, which have proven effective in guiding young individuals toward their career choices.

Institutional Support for Gender Equality

• The establishment of the Colegio de Acá Termitas Universitarias has significantly advanced gender equality within universities, particularly in various scientific fields.

• The "Mujer y Ciencia" group at UNAM, formed in 2006, focuses on biomedical sciences and chemistry, with over 90 members contributing to workshops and publications aimed at supporting young women.

Gender Inclusion in Science Policy

• Emphasizing the importance of gender inclusion within science policy is crucial; international frameworks exist that support this initiative.

• Significant advancements were made during the previous administration regarding gender as a transversal axis in national development plans, leading to modifications in laws related to science and technology.

Historical Context and Future Directions

• A historical program from 2006 aimed at strengthening academic opportunities for women graduates in physics, mathematics, and engineering lasted only one year; understanding its shortcomings could inform future initiatives.

• Current efforts are focused on revising science legislation to better incorporate gender analysis into research practices.

Research Methodology Enhancements

• There is a push for integrating sex and gender analysis into all research studies since such inclusivity can significantly enhance research quality across various fields.

• A collaborative book was published by a network highlighting successful research projects that included gender considerations across health, education, natural resources, food security, reproductive technologies, and communication.

Addressing Inequalities Within Academia

Challenges Faced by Women in STEM Fields

• Acknowledgment of ongoing inequalities within academia is essential; discussions focus on strategies to mitigate these disparities specifically within sciences and technologies.

Introduction of Final Speaker

• Dr. Patricia Castañeda Salgado will conclude the presentations discussing challenges faced by women in academia. She specializes in feminist anthropology with a focus on indigenous women's issues.

University Program on the Right to Free and Safe Mobility

Overview of the Research Project

• The university program focuses on a diagnostic investigation regarding the right to free and safe mobility, characterized as feminist, interdisciplinary, and inter-institutional over six years.

• The project aims to understand what constitutes this right and how it can be exercised, emphasizing that the state must respect and guarantee conditions for its exercise.

Institutional Responsibility

• UNAM is identified as a public institution responsible for ensuring this right for all individuals on campus through participatory diagnosis with a feminist perspective.

• The research particularly targets young female university students who face significant disadvantages within the university population.

Addressing Insecurity

• By improving conditions of insecurity affecting women, broader safety improvements can be achieved for the entire university community.

• The approach involves mixed research groups to capture diverse perspectives within the student body while focusing on specific vulnerabilities.

Methodological Approach

• The project employs exploratory walks and discussion groups modified from existing models to include various identities such as indigenous people, sexual diversity, and those with disabilities.

• Reflection groups are prioritized over mere discussions to better understand unique contexts and common challenges faced by different demographics.

Collective Security Concept

• The initiative promotes security as a collective good rather than relying solely on rigid control measures; it seeks internal solutions from the university community itself.

• Aims for equal access across UNAM's geographical spaces regardless of gender, ethnicity, age, or physical condition.

Infrastructure Challenges

• Emphasizes that safe mobility is linked closely with infrastructure quality; improvements are necessary in public transport systems provided by the city.

• Highlights women's autonomy in exercising their "university citizenship," which encompasses all rights accessible due to their status as students or staff.

Inequities in Mobility Rights

• Findings reveal that free mobility is hindered by gender biases, ethnic conditions, sexual orientation discrimination, and physical disabilities within campus settings.

• Observations indicate some infrastructural changes have been made (e.g., ramps), but significant gaps remain in ensuring accessibility for all individuals.

Societal Norm Impacts

• Identifies societal biases—sexist, classist, homophobic—that restrict mobility rights both generally in society and specifically within academic institutions.

Urban Mobility and Gender Rights in University Spaces

The Need for a Sustainable Urban Environment

• The current urban model fails to create a welcoming environment, as it forces individuals to compete for space with their surroundings, contradicting sustainability principles.

• Acknowledgment of the ongoing struggle for rights within the university community, which is not fully recognized by its inhabitants.

Discrimination and Gender-Based Violence

• The discussion connects to Dr. Bouquet's findings on discrimination and gender violence, emphasizing the need to evaluate human rights conditions that either enable or obstruct mobility.

• Identifies urban characteristics that can enhance mobility but highlights significant improvements needed in lighting, flooring conditions, and visibility.

Enhancing Safety Through Design

• Advocates for integrating gender perspectives into urban planning; spatial design should reflect gender considerations to improve safety for women.

• Highlights a strong sense of university identity among residents who feel secure due to community support but also notes the persistence of public-private divides regarding safety issues.

Addressing Sexuality and Institutional Responsibility

• Discusses how issues related to sexuality and gender-based violence are often viewed as personal matters rather than institutional concerns, leading to confusion when perpetrators are part of the institution.

• Examines harassment situations within university transit systems (e.g., pumabús), indicating that environmental factors can foster new social practices if properly addressed.

Collaborative Efforts for Improvement

• Emphasizes interest from various research groups in improving university conditions through collaborative proposals involving architecture, geography, and social work disciplines.

• Notes a lack of awareness about existing proposals among different groups, suggesting a need for better communication and collaboration.

Cultural Obstacles and Educational Gaps

• Identifies dominant gender culture as an obstacle alongside privatization of public spaces that restrict movement within the university.

• Points out widespread ignorance regarding human rights among students and staff, highlighting the absence of educational programs focused on human rights with a gender perspective.

Proposing an Inclusive Intervention Model

• Suggestion for a participatory intervention model aimed at promoting safe mobility within academic settings while prioritizing education on gender equality and human rights.

Understanding Feminist Perspectives on Care and Intervention

The Concept of Interdependence in Care

• The discussion emphasizes a feminist approach to care, moving away from the traditional view where some individuals care for others. Instead, it promotes the idea that everyone participates in mutual care.

Transitioning from Diagnosis to Action

• A framework is presented outlining the transition from identifying issues (diagnosis) to implementing solutions (execution), highlighting the importance of defining intervention dimensions.

Key Dimensions of Intervention

• Four central axes are identified for effective intervention:

• Awareness

• Planning and design of safe public transport spaces

• Gender perspective integration

• Development of specific policies

Importance of Community Involvement

• The speaker expresses that community-wide participation in gender perspective training is essential for successful equality policies, fostering shared language and objectives among all university members.

Programmatic Approach to Address Issues

• The proposed model focuses on addressing problems faced by individuals rather than solely relying on existing policies. It aims to create interdisciplinary groups involving various administrative departments for comprehensive program success.

Closing Remarks and Acknowledgments