Asking the Norwegian Minister of Education and Research about gender equality
What will minister Øystein Djupedal do to speed up gender equality work in the higher education sector?
August 8, 2006
This is one question that Gerd Janne Kristoffersen, parliamentary representative for the Norwegian Labour Party, and member of The Standing Committee on Education, Research and Church Affairs, is wondering about. Right before the summer holiday she delivered an interpellation to the minister, in which she calls for an effort to correct the gender imbalances in academia.
A problem of democracy
“It is astounding that only 17 per cent of professors in Norway are women. I’m sure there are many explanations for why this is case, but nevertheless it is not something we can abide”, says Kristoffersen.
She emphasises that the low proportion of women is a democratic problem which can also have consequences for which research projects gain priority. “For example, there are many people who believe this has consequences for medicine, and that women’s illness are underevaluated and pychologised.”
Krisoffersen wants an offensive in relation to gender equality in research right now, with a fresh look at what it is that reproduces gender imbalance, and which strategies work.
No Criticism
Even though Kristoffersen poses this question to the minister for education and research she will not say that Djupedal has not done enough on this subject.
“I understand Djupedal to be interested in doing something about the gender imbalances within research. Therefore I also believe it was wise to pose this question to him, so that he can announce what he has in mind to do about the situation,” she says.
Use bait
Kristoffersen is concerned that the stick must be replaced by more positive means in gender equality work.
“We must end up with means that stimulate and reward those who make an effort. We must quite simply use bait in gender equality work, says the representative, who doesn’t reject that using financial incentives to reward universities that achieve good results on the gender equality front is a good idea.”
The question from Gerd Janne Kristoffersen to the minister for education and research should, according to its proposer, come up in parliament in October. For everyone who is interested in the government’s plans on this subject, an answer may be forthcoming.
Translated by Matthew Whiting, KILDEN
Call for measures to combat gender-based violence in academia
Call for measures to combat gender-based violence in academia
“Gender-based violence affects the majority of students and staff in higher education,” according to Fredrik Bondestam from the University of Gothenburg.
Most read in 2022: Class, equality and inclusion in academia
Most read in 2022: Class, equality and inclusion in academia
The article about class as an invisible difference in academia was the most popular one last year. Check out our most read stories from 2022.
Europe gather to discuss gender-based violence in academia
Europe gather to discuss gender-based violence in academia
In Norway we call it sexual harassment in academia, and in Europe it is known as gender-based violence.
Foreign researchers improve gender balance
Foreign researchers improve gender balance
“We didn’t think that international recruitment would influence the gender balance in academia in favour of more women in senior positions, but we were wrong,” says researcher Kaja Wendt.
The tech industry needs to change its work culture to recruit more women
The tech industry needs to change its work culture to recruit more women
Changing the expectation that staff should work around the clock could encourage more women to work in technology, according to Gilda Seddighi.
Everyday racism exists in academia too
Everyday racism exists in academia too
“It’s both surprising and not really that big a revelation that everyday racism is fairly similar whether you work in academia or anywhere else,” says Mona Abdel-Fadil, researcher at the Norwegian Center for Holocaust and Minority Studies.
“Class is an invisible difference in academia”
“Class is an invisible difference in academia”
How common is it to be a first-generation academic in Norway? According to researchers in the field, we do not know, because there is so little research on social backgrounds in academia.
Diversity report:
University employees miss a sense of belonging
University employees miss a sense of belonging
The authors of a new report suggest that research institutions must take more responsibility for building an inclusive work community.
Changing perspectives in gender equality research
Changing perspectives in gender equality research
A new report has identified trends and knowledge gaps in Norwegian scientific publications on gender equality and diversity in research and innovation. According to the report, it is not a given that measures aimed at gender equality are also effective when it comes to ethnic diversity.
Sweden has surveyed sexual harassment in academia
Sweden has surveyed sexual harassment in academia
Over half of all female doctoral students have experienced unwanted sexual attention, reveals a new report from Sweden.
“Not a goal that everyone takes higher education”
“Not a goal that everyone takes higher education”
Not everyone should take higher education, but every person should have equal rights to education. We need to keep those two ideas in our minds at the same time, believes political scientist Ingvild Reymert.
European gender equality project kicks off
European gender equality project kicks off
Organizations from 21 countries recently came together under a new project to promote gender equality in European research policy.
Research debunks myth about women’s low publication output
Research debunks myth about women’s low publication output
New light has been shed on the long-held myth that female researchers have a publishing problem. It now appears clear that publishing points are far more a matter of one’s academic field and position level, not gender.
From gender equality to inclusion
From gender equality to inclusion
How will gender equality efforts in the research sector evolve as we take more and more groups into consideration?