Canada – Strengthening Research Capacity: The GENDER Dimension
Author: Womens UN Report Network
Date: November 12, 2012
WUNRN
Council of Canadian Academies
Direct Link to Full 252-Page 2012
Report:
CANADA – STRENGTHENING CANADA’S
RESEARCH CAPACITY: THE GENDER DIMENSION
After
the notable absence of female candidates in the Canada Excellence Research
Chairs (CERC) program, the Minister of Industry, in March 2010, struck an
ad-hoc panel to examine the program’s selection process. The ad-hoc panel found
that the lack of female representation was not due to active choices made
during the CERC selection process. As a result, the Council of Canadian
Academies received a request to undertake an assessment of the factors that
influence university research careers of women, both in Canada and
internationally.
To conduct the assessment, the Council convened an expert
panel of 15 Canadian and international experts from diverse fields, which was
chaired by Dr. Lorna Marsden, President emeritus and Professor, York
University.
The report is informed by a life-course model, which allowed
the Panel to provide an in-depth overview of the factors that affect research
career trajectories. The Panel was also able to develop a baseline of
information regarding the statistical profile of women researchers in Canada.
The major findings from the statistical profile are:
In general, the Canadian profile is similar to that
of other economically advanced nations.
Women’s progress in Canadian universities is uneven and dependent on
discipline and rank.
The higher the rank, the lower the percentage of women in comparison to
men.
The key factors determined by the Panel that impact the career paths of
women start early in life with stereotypes that define roles and expectations,
followed by a lack of knowledge about requisites for potential career paths,
and a lack of role models and mentors. These issues, combined with a rigid
tenure track structure, challenges associated with the paid work-family life
balance, and the importance of increased support and coordination amongst
governments and institutions should be examined if Canada is going to achieve a
greater gender balance within academia.
Question:
What policies and what societal, cultural, and
institutional, economic, and/or other relevant factors influence the career
trajectory of women researchers in Canadian universities and underlie gender
disparities observed in Canadian university researcher’s statistical profile,
by discipline area, rank, duty/position/stature, salary, tenure, research funding
and or/any other relevant indicators?
More precisely:
- How does the statistical profile of women in university
research careers in Canada compare to that of women in key jurisdictions
abroad? - What are the issues that university researchers may
face as they seek to advance their careers, and do these issues differ
across the range of discipline areas in the natural sciences and
engineering, social sciences and humanities, and health sciences? Do women
researchers in government, non-governmental organizations, and the private
sector face similar challenges? - Both in Canada and internationally, what are the best
practices adopted by universities, funding bodies, academic associations,
governments, non-governmental organizations, private sector organizations,
and other relevant actors to recruit and retain women researchers, and
appoint them to prominent positions?
Expert
Panel
The Expert Panel on Women in University Research was chaired by Dr.
Lorna R. Marsden, President emeritus and Professor, York University, in
Toronto. For a complete list of panel members visit the Expert
Panel on Women in University Research page.
For further information, please contact:
Janet Bax, Program Director at 613-567-5000 ext. 267 or janet.bax@scienceadvice.ca
Categories: Releases
