Equal opportunities for women 4.0
Did you know?
... that 96% of Covid 19 clinical trials make no reference to sex and gender, even though coronavirus affects women and men differently?
... that only 60 % of couples who shared care responsibilities equally before the coronavirus pandemic continued to do so during the crisis?
... that over 70% of female professors with minor-aged children say that they were unable to complete as much as they had planned during the pandemic, but only 54% of fathers (7% of fathers were even able to publish more than planned)?
Equal opportunities for women 4.0
"Gender equality 4.0 - why we urgently need new ideas!" is the motto for International Women's Day at the University of Oldenburg on 8 March 2023. contributions to the current discussion on the topic of Gender equality at universities. In particular, we have explored the question of how future gender equality measures can be made more sustainable.
Gender equality 4.0 - why we urgently need new ideas
The coronavirus pandemic has presented us with a variety of challenges and acted as a magnifying glass. Existing inequalities were reinforced and thus became more clearly visible. Traditional roles returned to families: Mothers often took over the care work again during the closure of daycare centres and schools - even in families where the parents had previously looked after the children equally. Clinical Covid studies generally made no reference to gender, although it was clear very early on that the coronavirus affects women and men differently. Female scientists were also often more restricted in their academic appointments during the coronavirus crisis for various reasons. All of this shows us by way of example that the current gender equality measures are not sustainable enough.
Today, at the end of the coronavirus pandemic, some memories of this time are fading. That is why, on the occasion of International Women's Day 2023 at the University of Oldenburg, we would like to look back with you, record the key developments and use them to develop ideas for shaping Gender equality at universities in the future.
We asked women from different areas of the University of Oldenburg to share their experiences during the coronavirus pandemic with us(→ Statements: Gender equality during the coronavirus crisis) and compiled interesting research findings on current developments in gender equality for women in science, technology and administration(→ Gender gaps: old gaps remain, new ones open up).
Recent publications by the HRK, the GWK and the Leopoldina also show that we urgently need Gender equality 4.0. Based on statements from these and other renowned academic institutions, we finally outline a possible future shape for Gender equality under → Gender equality 4.0 .
As this year the University Senate is meeting in public on the morning of 8 March and we are unable to offer an International Women's Day event at the same time, we have decided to compile the content on our website for family-friendly reasons. This means that they can be read at any time. Please feel free to write to me at with your experiences and suggestions regarding Gender equality at the University of Oldenburg I will then pass them on to the relevant university committees.
Yours
Anne G. Kosfeld (Chief Gender Equality Officer)
Why do we celebrate International Women's Day?
In Europe, the first International Women's Day was celebrated on 19 March 1911. At that time, women were mainly fighting for the right to vote. In 1975, the United Nations chose 8 March as the date for International Women's Day.
This year's motto for UN Women's International Women's Day is:
The intention of International Women's Day explicitly refers to the situation of women. This also includes women who are affected by multiple forms of discrimination. This is also how the legal mandate of the Chief Gender Equality Officer is to be understood (see Involving the Chief Gender Equality Officer as an expert).
Many people do not identify as either a woman or a man and therefore experience multiple forms of discrimination, including in the academic system (Leopoldina 2022). In addition, there are many discriminatory structures in which people find themselves at universities. A good overview is provided by the
All these structures of discrimination need to be addressed in greater depth. We are pleased that the University of Oldenburg recently successfully completed the diversity audit. In cooperation with the Diversity Committee, we will work to ensure that discrimination is analysed and tailored countermeasures are developed. We therefore ask for your understanding that we are focussing on the situation of women as part of International Women's Day.