Impact Assessment of an Affirmative Action to Promote Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect in Brazilian Chemistry during the COVID-19 Pandemic

In December 2019, the institutional affirmative action “Onde elas estão?” (“Where are they?”) was launched for the mitigation of gender inequality in the STEM disciplines in Brazil, coincidentally in the same period which the first reports of the COVID-19 pandemic appeared in the city of Wuhan, Chi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of chemical education 2022-01, Vol.99 (1), p.513-518
Main Authors: Soares, Ricardo, Santiago de Mello, Márcia Cristina, Naegele, Rafaela
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Affirmative Action
Chemistry
Chemists
Communication
COVID-19
Diversity equity & inclusion
Equal Education
Equal Opportunities (Jobs)
Females
Foreign Countries
Gender Bias
Gender equity
Geographic Regions
Inclusion
Minority Groups
Organic Chemistry
Pandemics
Racial Bias
Scientists
Social Bias
Socioeconomic Status
STEM Education
Student Diversity
Technical education
Visibility
Workplace diversity
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Summary:In December 2019, the institutional affirmative action “Onde elas estão?” (“Where are they?”) was launched for the mitigation of gender inequality in the STEM disciplines in Brazil, coincidentally in the same period which the first reports of the COVID-19 pandemic appeared in the city of Wuhan, China. Unfortunately, when evaluating the initiative through different approaches belonging to the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Respect (DEIR) theories, the presence of implicit biases and the invisibility of underrepresented minorities was observed. Approximately 77.5% of the female scientists participating in the initiative were white and belonging to the wealthiest regions (75%) and with the greatest contribution to Brazil’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). On the other hand, Black, Indigenous, and Asian female chemists were not identified, nor were female chemists belonging to the North Region (Brazilian Amazon Region). The DEIR practice “Onde elas estão?” has an important role in the dissemination of highly qualified Brazilian female chemists and provides an important source of engagement and sense of community for future generations of female students to avoid abandoning STEM subjects. However, adjustments are needed that take into account greater Diversity, Inclusion, Equity, and Respect.
ISSN:0021-9584
1938-1328
DOI:10.1021/acs.jchemed.1c00470