Women, girls, science and technology

The report ‘Women and Innovation 2022’ carried out by the Ministry of Science and Innovation in collaboration with the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) aims to analyze gender gaps in the innovative sector in order to guide the measures to be carried out in R+D+I. Although this report presents progress, such as the increase of almost 4 percentage points between 2018 and 2021 of women in the sector (which means twice the increase than in the case of men), certain gaps still persist. For example, in STEM fields, the number of women in doctoral studies such as Computer Science and Engineering is only 20%, which continues to show an underrepresentation of women relative to men in these areas. The report also analyzes the presence of women once they join or opt for a position in this field, finding differences in the internal R&D staff (only 28.9% were women), differences in innovation and knowledge transfer (in the applications submitted they only appear as inventors in 37.6% of the applications), or in representative positions, in which only 15% of the innovative business groups that have received funding have women in their presidency, a percentage that drops to 3% in the governing boards.

In view of these results, certain objectives are proposed and prioritized, such as making innovative studies and professions more visible and promoting them, as well as eliminating gender biases in access to jobs, in obtaining research grants and in reaching representative positions, among others.
In 2022, the reform of the Law on Science, Technology and Innovation was also definitively approved, and among its proposals there are some aimed at equality, such as the creation of a gender equality label for R&D&I centers that accredit achieving excellence criteria in this field, promoting affirmative action measures, reconciliation and co-responsibility, etc.

At Opciónate we understand that in order to achieve these objectives it is also necessary to address them from childhood, from the very games and interests that drive the media and the figures of reference. Therefore, in a transversal way in each of our actions we are committed to break down gender stereotypes, encouraging girls and adolescents to use and enjoy activities that include science and technology. In addition, we promote the visibility of women working in these sectors and we carry out actions aimed at eliminating sexist barriers throughout the labor process, such as hiring or professional promotion.

We work advising institutions in the sector and carrying out projects that promote the overthrow of sexist stereotypes. All this, from a rights-based and intercultural approach, with participatory and experiential methodologies.