Gender Balance Task Force [GBTF]- RDA Natalie Harrower Devika Madalli

RDA-GBTF Objective: Focus upon gender balance and to sensitize the RDA community to related issues Goal: The task force aims to bring out recommendations that will help achieve gender balance within RDA and its activities.

Work Plan May 2017 Task Force proposal July 2017 Endorsement of TF proposal by Council July-Aug 2017 Call for TF members and installation of TF Aug – Sept 2017 Getting the numbers:qualititative research into gender statistics within RDA Sept 2017 Presentation of findings at RDA P10 Oct17 – Jan18 Qualitative research: desk research on gender balance policies and initiatives of other organisations, interviews with RDA members February 2018 Final report with recommendations for endorsement to Council March 2018 Presentation of the recommendations at RDA P11

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Council remarks Use the term gender balance instead of equality Use the broadest definition of gender TF membership should not be limited in any way and should incorporate at least one Council member The TF should also design a more general Code of Conduct for the organisation (including online meetings, co-located events, regional activities, etc.) A communication and dissemination plan needed

Task Force Purpose/Terms of Reference Adopt an inclusive definition of gender: non-binary Look to other aspects of diversity beyond gender Things to consider RDA statistics need to be put in context, e.g.: what are the relevant stats in a given discipline that RDA draws from? For statistics, look at overall RDA membership – not just those who attend #RDAPlenary. Why don’t some people attend? Include supporters in this process – e.g. It’s not only ‘females’ interested in this diversity

Potential Actions No more ‘manels’: requirement for diversity in Plenary guidelines. All female panel with role models Use communication channels to campaign for recruiting women into traditionally male disciplines & Encourage participation from disciplines that are traditionally female. Remote Plenary participation for as many sessions as possible – including the Women’s breakfast. Work with Force11 who have looked at inherent biases in scholarly comms, especially in terms of the global south

Acknowledgements Thanks are due to The RDA Council Ingrid Dillo Stefanie Kethers Sandra Collins Fran Berman and all our initial members

Thank you!