Towards the SDGs for gender equality and decent work: investigating major challenges faced by Brazilian women in STEM careers with international experience
Abstract This paper aims to understand the main difficulties faced by women throughout their careers in Brazil and abroad. Based on the information gathered from these experiences, it seeks to advance the discussion on women's participation in STEM focusing on SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 8...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Discover Sustainability |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-023-00125-x |
| _version_ | 1827985476859985920 |
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| author | Tatiane Kemechian Tiago F. A. C. Sigahi Vitor W. B. Martins Izabela Simon Rampasso Gustavo Hermínio Salati Marcondes de Moraes Milena Pavan Serafim Walter Leal Filho Rosley Anholon |
| author_facet | Tatiane Kemechian Tiago F. A. C. Sigahi Vitor W. B. Martins Izabela Simon Rampasso Gustavo Hermínio Salati Marcondes de Moraes Milena Pavan Serafim Walter Leal Filho Rosley Anholon |
| author_sort | Tatiane Kemechian |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This paper aims to understand the main difficulties faced by women throughout their careers in Brazil and abroad. Based on the information gathered from these experiences, it seeks to advance the discussion on women's participation in STEM focusing on SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 8 (decent work). The main difficulties experienced by women in STEM as discussed in the academic literature were mapped. This provided input to develop a questionnaire containing qualitative and quantitative questions used to conduct interviews with women working in STEM. The sample consisted of highly qualified professionals working in high positions in the hierarchies of multinational companies in the STEM field with experience both in Brazil and abroad. The data collected was analyzed using a mixed-methods approach, including content analysis for qualitative questions and the Grey Relational Analysis for quantitative questions. The results revealed that the lack of flexible work systems, the scarcity of gender-sensitive organizational policies and labor policies, and the prevalence of traditional cultural models are some of the main difficulties faced both in Brazil and abroad by the women interviewed. The need to discuss issues of gender equality and decent work in the early stages of education is important for increasing women’s participation in STEM, which is a critical factor in the development of inclusive organizations and in fully achieving the sustainable development of society. This paper presents a unique perspective of the perceived difficulties faced by executive women who worked in Brazil and in different countries (i.e., Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Switzerland and the United States). Gender equality in organizations is highly context-dependent, and cross-cultural analysis generates relevant insights to face the challenges and advance the discussion on women’s participation in STEM. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:15:35Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ab5e97f02e1d4bebb40be0067a722208 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2662-9984 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:15:35Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Sustainability |
| spelling | doaj.art-ab5e97f02e1d4bebb40be0067a7222082023-03-22T10:04:13ZengSpringerDiscover Sustainability2662-99842023-02-014111710.1007/s43621-023-00125-xTowards the SDGs for gender equality and decent work: investigating major challenges faced by Brazilian women in STEM careers with international experienceTatiane Kemechian0Tiago F. A. C. Sigahi1Vitor W. B. Martins2Izabela Simon Rampasso3Gustavo Hermínio Salati Marcondes de Moraes4Milena Pavan Serafim5Walter Leal Filho6Rosley Anholon7School of Mechanical Engineering, State University of CampinasSchool of Mechanical Engineering, State University of CampinasDepartment of Production Engineering, State University of ParáDepartment of Industrial Engineering, Universidad Católica del NorteSchool of Applied Sciences, State University of CampinasSchool of Applied Sciences, State University of CampinasResearch and Transfer Centre “Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management”, Hamburg University of Applied SciencesSchool of Mechanical Engineering, State University of CampinasAbstract This paper aims to understand the main difficulties faced by women throughout their careers in Brazil and abroad. Based on the information gathered from these experiences, it seeks to advance the discussion on women's participation in STEM focusing on SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 8 (decent work). The main difficulties experienced by women in STEM as discussed in the academic literature were mapped. This provided input to develop a questionnaire containing qualitative and quantitative questions used to conduct interviews with women working in STEM. The sample consisted of highly qualified professionals working in high positions in the hierarchies of multinational companies in the STEM field with experience both in Brazil and abroad. The data collected was analyzed using a mixed-methods approach, including content analysis for qualitative questions and the Grey Relational Analysis for quantitative questions. The results revealed that the lack of flexible work systems, the scarcity of gender-sensitive organizational policies and labor policies, and the prevalence of traditional cultural models are some of the main difficulties faced both in Brazil and abroad by the women interviewed. The need to discuss issues of gender equality and decent work in the early stages of education is important for increasing women’s participation in STEM, which is a critical factor in the development of inclusive organizations and in fully achieving the sustainable development of society. This paper presents a unique perspective of the perceived difficulties faced by executive women who worked in Brazil and in different countries (i.e., Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Switzerland and the United States). Gender equality in organizations is highly context-dependent, and cross-cultural analysis generates relevant insights to face the challenges and advance the discussion on women’s participation in STEM.https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-023-00125-xGender equalityDiversitySustainable developmentDecent workBarriersLeadership |
| spellingShingle | Tatiane Kemechian Tiago F. A. C. Sigahi Vitor W. B. Martins Izabela Simon Rampasso Gustavo Hermínio Salati Marcondes de Moraes Milena Pavan Serafim Walter Leal Filho Rosley Anholon Towards the SDGs for gender equality and decent work: investigating major challenges faced by Brazilian women in STEM careers with international experience Discover Sustainability Gender equality Diversity Sustainable development Decent work Barriers Leadership |
| title | Towards the SDGs for gender equality and decent work: investigating major challenges faced by Brazilian women in STEM careers with international experience |
| title_full | Towards the SDGs for gender equality and decent work: investigating major challenges faced by Brazilian women in STEM careers with international experience |
| title_fullStr | Towards the SDGs for gender equality and decent work: investigating major challenges faced by Brazilian women in STEM careers with international experience |
| title_full_unstemmed | Towards the SDGs for gender equality and decent work: investigating major challenges faced by Brazilian women in STEM careers with international experience |
| title_short | Towards the SDGs for gender equality and decent work: investigating major challenges faced by Brazilian women in STEM careers with international experience |
| title_sort | towards the sdgs for gender equality and decent work investigating major challenges faced by brazilian women in stem careers with international experience |
| topic | Gender equality Diversity Sustainable development Decent work Barriers Leadership |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-023-00125-x |
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