Chapter 5: Science, Public Health and Food Security

Title: Women participation in science: a critical argument for and against

Reference: WORLD SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OUTLOOK 2006 pp. 148 - 158

Abstract/Summary: The question of women participation in science is of particular relevance to science policy making, as data and statistics indicate the need for government intervention. This paper concentrates on analysing the Pros and Cons of women participation in science. There are four main categories of arguments favourable to and against women participation in science: economic growth, equal opportunity, biological dissimilarities and finally, particular (dis)ability to do science differently. From a liberal feminist perspective and a realist constructivist viewpoint, arguments favourable to women's participation in science outnumber those against it. These arguments demonstrate the need for gender conscious as well as women-oriented policies.

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