Technoscientific labour and gender equity in Argentina: comparing barriers and opportunities for women in the public and private sectors

This project investigates the dynamics that shape women's participation and careers in science and technology organizations in Argentina. In recent years, gender equity indicators have improved for women employed in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, but disparities still exist.

Through quantitative and qualitative analysis, the project will characterize recruitment, promotion, evaluation, and performance dynamics and determine how these dynamics influence women's career paths. The three fields and organizations under study are nuclear physics at the National Atomic Energy Commission; agricultural technological research at the National Agricultural Technology Institute; and software development at IT firms belonging to the Chamber of Argentinian Software Industries.

The research will complement structural and quantitative analyses by highlighting gender bias in relation to the cognitive, technical, or material division of labour, including recruitment and performance evaluation. The research employs a participatory approach and is expected to yield original insights to inform science policies and practices.

This project was selected for funding as part of IDRC’s call for proposals ”Breaking systemic barriers to women’s participation in science”.