Gender Mainstreaming in Science and Technology

This is one of the sectoral guides that are part of the Gender Management System (GMS) resource kit, a series of publications presenting GMS. GMS is an innovative system developed by the Commonwealth Secretariat for gender mainstreaming. The system is a comprehensive network of structures, mechanisms and processes for bringing a gender perspective to bear on all government policies, plans, programmes and projects. The kit consists of a handbook which presents the GMS in detail; sectoral guides to gender mainstreaming in specific sectors; and resource documents to assist the user in gender analysis, monitoring, evaluation and other aspects of gender mainstreaming. Each sectoral guide also has a corresponding Quick Guide - a short, user-friendly publication presenting the essential points. It is designed for policy-makers, planners, field staff and other government personnel involved in gender mainstreaming, as well as for academic users, NGOs, the private sector and others who have a stake in advancing gender equality and equity.
This guide examines the major gender issues in science and technology among governments, professional associations and related agencies, and provides examples of good practice and tools for mainstreaming gender. It explores issues such as science by whom and for whom, including: "the leaky S&T pipeline" (why girls and women in S&T school streams and career paths opt out, creating enabling environments); what type of health science research is being publicly funded; science and technology as a key ingredient of development and how appropriate is technology to women's and men's needs; do the new information and communication technologies impact differently on women and men; how can advances in agricultural biodiversity empower rural women and men, increase food security and protect indigenous knowledge; what are the gender issues in preventing and recovering from natural and man-made disasters.