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Mapping Wild Cards

Inspired by: FP7 » Female-centric projects a turn-off for women

version: 5 / updated: 2011-02-04
id: #1573 / version id: #926
mode: VIEW

Originally submitted by: Anthony Walker
List of all contributors by versions (mouse over)
Last changed by: Anthony Walker
WI-WE status:
submitted unpublished archived

Source of inspiration

European Commission Framework Programme for RTD (FP7)

Theme/activity of inspiration

CAPACITIES: Science and society

Sub-theme/area of inspiration

Strengthening potential, broadening horizons

Optional reference/s to FP7 project/s

Use the following format: Project Acronym (Project Reference No.). Use commas if more than one project is associated to this Wild Card, for example: ALFA-BIRD (213266), SAFAR (213374), LAPCAT-II (211485)
EPWS / ICWES14

Headline

(max. 9 words)

Female-centric projects a turn-off for women

Description

(approx. 150 words)
Please describe the Wild Card (approx. 150 words)
Projects set up to help females engage more in science are deemed sexist and patronising and are a reason behind women in the workplace getting less respect from colleagues than their male counterparts ("You only got this job because we 'needed' to have a woman on board"). More women are turning their back on a career in science in protest of such projects.

Keywords

STEM, research, female, women, patronising, career in science

Mini-description

(max. 250 characters)

Projects set up to help females engage more in science are deemed sexist and patronising and are a reason behind women in the workplace getting less respect from colleagues than their male counterparts

Likelihood

Closest timeframe for at least 50% likelihood
Please use one of the following options:
now-2050

Features of life if the wild card manifests

Feature 2: education and research environment
Less women involved in scientific research. The knowledge and expertise of millions of females is wasted. Ultimately, this would hinder progress. Research priorities and environments drastically change as they become even more dominated by males.
Feature 3: consumers, markets and lifestyles
Science becomes the taboo subject to study and a whole generation of potential scientists is lost. Work / Life balance unhealthy for both parties. Traditional roles in family taken to the extreme.
Feature 5: politics and global affairs
Sexist view of Science not only causes women to turn away, but also many men in moral protest. Expertise of millions is lost. Scientific progress is effectively stopped and those countries involved fall far behind others.
Feature 6: health and quality of life
Advances in healthcare could be slowed considerably, resulting in a number of diseases remaining incurable. Rift between female and male scientists (and maybe rifts in other careers and resentment in homelife).

Type of event

Unplanned consequence of events/trends/situations (e.g. financial crisis, accidental breakthrough)

Type of emergence

please select (if any) describe related trend or situation
A counter trend/development/situation
(e.g. There is a massive decline in mobile phone usage due to fears of health hazards; Considerations of privacy lead to the banning of video surveillance in public spaces 		Planned consequences would have been greater number of females interested in and taking up careers in science, however, the exact opposite happens as a result

Historical parallels

Stories reported of discrimation due to gender / colour / sexuality etc...

Type of systems affected

Human-built Systems - E.g. organisations, processes, technologies, etc.

Classification

Undesirable

Importance

please specify:
please select
Level 3: important for the European Union Directly relates to European initiative of promoting science to females

Early indicators

(including weak signals)

In the past, positive discrimination has resulted in resentment in the workforce. The goal of having more females with science careers is yet to be achieved.

Latent phase

Obstacles for early indentification

cultural/religious filters (values, traditions, faith, spiritual beliefs)
institutional filters (rules, laws, regulations)
affective filters (emotions, anxiety, self-doubt)

Manifestation phase

Type of manifestation

Very uncertain

Aftermath phase

Important implications
Transformation of a system (e.g. new applications, change in stakeholders relations/influence)

Comments

Limited number of females in the workplace. Certain roles (e.g. in a hospital) where it would be deemed beneficial (by the patient) to have a female medical practitioner, may be occupied by a male counterpart

Key drivers or triggers

Provide up to 2 possible drivers or triggers of HIGH importance. Click on HELP to see examples:
please describe
Driver / Trigger 1 		please describe
Driver / Trigger 2
Social Avoiding isolation of gender interaction in the workplace. Different perspectives on science from different genders.
Political Government initiatives in place to promote science careers to females. Gender equality in roles / responsibilities - having the best person for the job

Potential impacts (risks & opportunities)

Timeframe options
Risks Opportunities
immediate
(within 1 year after the Wild Card manifests) 		Less women inclined to take up career in science.
short term
(1 to 5 years after the Wild Card manifests) 		Risks of not having best employee for the job. Have legislation to ensure correct representation of gender equality
medium term
(5 to 10 years after the Wild Card manifests) 		Females turn their back on science careers due to the male dominated workforce.
long term
(more than 10 years after the Wild Card manifests) 		No females involved in science.

Potential stakeholders' actions

before
it occurs 		after
it occurs
Policy actors (at the international, European and national levels) Guidelines and policies in place to ensure that gender issues are correctly promoted. Governments need to implement policies and recommendations. Develop new legislattion as necessary to try to repair damage. Implement legislation.
Business actors (incl. SMEs) Follow implementation of policies and recommendations. Adhere to legislation.
Media Ensure that subject is not over dramatised. The media could promote careers in a more subtle way.

Relevance for Grand Challenges

where? please justify:
particularly relevant Europe world
Ageing and other demographic tensions Gender equality is out of balance.
Social cohesion and diversity Rift between female and male scientists (and maybe rifts in other careers and resentment in homelife)
Work-Life balance and mental health Work / Life balance unhealthy for both parties. Traditional roles in family taken to the extreme.

Relevance for thematic research areas

please justify:
particularly relevant
Social Sciences and Humanities
Science in society Yound female researchers already turn their back on careers in science due to negative perception of opportunities for females in science.

Pan-European strategies potentially helping to deal with the wild card

please justify:
particularly relevant
Improving researchers mobility and career development by, for example, realising a single labour market for researchers. Employees should be chosen on ability (not gender)

 Features of a research-friendly ecology contributing to deal with the wild card

For further information about 'research-friendly strategies' click here

please justify:
particularly relevant
Creating a closer link between researchers & policy-makers
(e.g. supporting both thematic and cross-cutting policies, highlighting the strategic purpose of the European Research Area, etc. 		Bridging the gap between policy makers and researchers to ensure bottom up approach to new policies is taken into consideration (e.g. what are the feelings of females for the best way to promote science careers).

Relevance for future R&D and STI policies

Note: RTD = research and technology development; STI = science, technology and innovation
Young female researchers already turn their back on careers in science due to negative perception of opportunities for females in science. Bridging the gap between policy makers and researchers to ensure bottom up approach to new policies is taken into consideration (e.g. what are the feelings of females for the best way to promote science careers).