Dismantling Gender Barriers in STEM

Hannah Whitehead, Matilda Dipieri

• Publisher: African Minds
• Year: 2026
• eBook ISBN:
  9781067253783
• Topic: Social Sciences
• Index: Social Sciences

Education and science are foundational to international development, yet gender inequities in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) persist globally. While these disparities are widespread, most research and discourse on gender in STEM originates from the Global North. This edited collection amplifi es contributions from the Global South, presenting twelve case studies supported by Canada's International Development Research Centre (IDRC). The case studies are led by researchers across Africa and Latin America who investigate gender inequities in STEM within their local or regional contexts. Organised around four interwoven themes, (1) building gender-responsive and equitable STEM institutions, (2) leveraging data to address gender disparities, (3) fostering leadership and mentorship for women in STEM, and (4) ensuring support across academic and career pathways, the book off ers a comprehensive view of the challenges and innovations shaping gender equity in STEM. Taken together, these chapters provide critical insights and recommendations to promote gender equity in STEM across the Global South and beyond.

Table of contents

• Front cover
• Title page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Acknowledgements
• Foreword
• Introduction
• 1 | Educational Pathways for Unlocking the Participation of Women and Girls in Science: Lessons from Zimbabwe’s Women’s University in Africa
• 2 | The “Learning School”: A Foundation for Gender Equality and Green Growth in Colombia
• 3 | Gender Policies and Gender Transformation within the African Research Universities Alliance
• 4 | Gender Inequalities in STEM: Focusing on Agricultural Science in West African Public Universities and Research Units
• 5 | Uncovering Indigenous Women in STEM: A First Approach from Mexico
• 6 | Fostering Open Data on Women in STEM across Latin America: The ELLAS Network
• 7 | Gender-Lensed Supervision and Mentorship Framework for STEM Postgraduate Training in East Africa: Processes, Experiences and Lessons Learned
• 8 | Advancing Women in STEM Leadership: Policy Analysis with Insights from Water-related Sectors in Ghana and Kenya
• 9 | Pedagogical Efforts to Address Gender Disparities in STEM Higher Education in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Scoping Review
• 10 | From Individuals to Institutions: Scaling Up Women Scientists’ Impact inthe Global South
• 11 | Voices of Change: Gender and Knowledge Journeys in the Construction of Public Policies for Women in STEM in Bolivia
• 12 | The Underrepresentation of Women in STEM Research in Afrika – Can Nego-Feminism Offer a Solution?
• Conclusion
• Back cover