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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. Initial Findings(1)

5. Initial findings (1) ..contd.

6. Initial Findings (2)

7. Initial Findings (3)

8. Initial Findings (4)

9. Initial Findings (5)

10. Initial Findings (6)

11. Initial Findings (7)

12. Initial Findings (8)

13. Initial Findings (9)

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

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

18. Thank you!