EOWIN workshop Support and theory revisited: why do they come together Mgr. Marcela Linková co-ordinator National Contact Centre for Women in Science

EOWIN workshop Czech Republic – where do we stand? gender research: Institute of Sociology, Academy of Science CR research studies on women – labour market, history, psychology, sports, education etc. gender departments: – new graduate programme at Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University, Prague (launches fall 2005) – now Centre for Gender Studies without accreditation – undergraduate programme at Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University, Brno (launches fall 2004)

EOWIN workshop women in science National Contact Centre – Women in Science advisory body for the Ministry of Education in matters of gender equality in R&D 1 st phase: currently in re-application procedure at the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports for the period of funded under INTERNATIONAL CO-OPERATION IN R&D and not under GENDER EQUALITY IN R&D

EOWIN workshop from support to epistemology Initially, one line of activity – SUPPORT – awareness raising – situation mapping – visibility of women scientists (Woman of the Month) – seminars, workshops and conferences – publications: science and society link, expert gender studies – data collection – de-stereotyping careers: links to secondary schools in Prague (science in action approach) – individual assistance (reintegration, sexual harassment, grant opportunities consultancy, pay discrimination related to unfair measuring of excellence)

EOWIN workshop from support to epistemology II Today, two lines of activity – SUPPORT combined with FEMINIST EPISTEMOLOGICAL CONCERNS – support activities can be carried out ONLY in synch with concerns how scientific knowledge is produced, who are the gatekeepers, how power operates in R&D, that science is inherently BIASED – economically, socially, politically involved and contextualised – standpoint important for knowledge production: enlarged Europe versus old Member States – INSTITUTIONAL/STRUCTURAL ASPECTS + INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOURAL ASPECT = RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE EXCELLENCE

EOWIN workshop major considerations How do we define gender mainstreaming? – human resources approach – women’s human rights approach What does promoting women in science mean today? – more women into research and decision making bodies – work-life balance issues – mobility

EOWIN workshop definition of approach EITHER take the status quo and try working within this – bound to fail (reinforces prevalent gender stereotypes) OR work on changing the status quo by changing underlying gender assumptions and biases - path to change (works on changing prevalent gender stereotypes)

EOWIN workshop feministically informed research needed homosocialibility – tendency of institutions to select people who fit those who are in decision-making positions and of men to bar access of women to top positions (women can function similarly due to “surrogate maleness” – Nicky LeFeuvre) measurement of excellence vis-à-vis prevalent gender stereotypes about women’s capabilities and involvement in science stereotypes in education behavioural aspects (tendency to underestimate own capabilities, different communication patterns and needs)

EOWIN workshop www and contact Marcela Linkova URL: National Contact Centre for Women and Science Institute of Sociology, Academy of Sciences Czech Republic address: Husova 7, Prague 1, Czech Republic tel: fax: