Background Studies

Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)
CSW is the principal global intergovernmental body exclusively dedicated to the promotion of gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Women in STEM Principles and Actions
APEC is the premier Asia-Pacific economic forum whose primary goal is to support sustainable economic growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region. APEC is committed to increasing women and girls participation in STEM education, careers, and entrepreneurship.

Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Section, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)
Where do women stand in STEM in Africa?

Global Gender Gap Report 2023
Annual benchmark of the current state and evolution of gender parity across four key dimensions (Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival, and Political Empowerment).

UNESCO Institute for Statistics – Women in Science
Women in Science theme pushes to identify the qualitative factors that deter women from pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

These are the best countries for women to work in
In every region of the world, discriminatory laws still prevent women from fulfilling their potential, undermining their economic security by limiting their ability to work and pursue a career.

Gender equality in science: Inclusion and participation of women in global science organizations
Report challenges our complacency with the rate and degree of progress towards gender equity within science and scientific organizations, and sets an agenda for priority action.

Research Studies

Why Europe’s girls aren’t studying STEM
Region-wide research of 11,500 women reveals how we can get more young women into science, technology, engineering, and math.

Accelerating Women’s Advancement in STEM: Emerging Lessons on Network Strategies and Approaches in Asia
22 networks were selected for in-depth examination in this report based on the effective and/or innovative approaches.

Boosting Women in Technology in Southeast Asia
Gender diversity can make companies more innovative and agile and improve their financial performance.

SWE Research Fast Facts – Global Math and Science Performance
Managerial support for work-family balance and professional development opportunities are essential for women who stay in engineering professions.

The gender gap in science and technology, in numbers
Women remain a significant minority in the scientific fields driving the digital revolution, amid a general skills shortage that’s holding back progress.

UNESCO Science Report 2021
Women are still under-represented in fields such as computing, digital information technology, engineering, mathematics, and physics.

UNICEF Regional Mapping: STEM and Digital Skills for Girls
Mapping includes 57 country programmes including 5 multi-country programmes in UNICEF and beyond, in 25 countries across Europe and Central Asia.

Share of female graduates by field of education
Education at a Glance is the authoritative source for information on the state of education around the world. It provides data on the structure, finances, and performance of education systems across OECD countries and a number of accession and partner countries.

Analysis of the retention of women in higher education STEM programs
The objective of this study was to find out the causes of permanence in STEM careers of women, as well as the possible causes of career abandonment towards another STEM or non-STEM career.

Fixing the Leaky Pipeline for Talented Women in STEM
Understanding why bright and talented girls leave STEM majors requires an in-depth understanding of the factors that predict their success and retention in STEM.

Comparison of women engineers who persist in or depart from engineering
Women who continue in engineering do differ from those who leave in their experience of workplace supports and their levels of occupational commitment.

Stereotype threat as a barrier to women entering engineering careers
Stigma consciousness (in the form of awareness of sexism and negative attitudes about women), but not stereotype vulnerability, negatively related to women’s confidence in their abilities to complete a college degree in an engineering major field.

What (and Who) is Holding Women Back in Tech?
Logitech surveyed people currently working in tech and IT, revealing five key moments that determine whether girls and women choose a career in computer science.

Beyond biology: The importance of cultural factors in explaining gender disparities in STEM preferences
We provide evidence for an important and overlooked cultural factor that contributes to gender disparities in computer science, engineering, and physics: masculine defaults.

Gender Influence on Career Preferences in STEM: Unraveling Stereotypes and Fostering Diversity
By fostering inclusivity and dismantling gender stereotypes, we can create a future where STEM fields are enriched by a diverse array of talents, enabling greater progress and innovation in science and technology.

Exploring the Opportunities, Challenges, and Ways Forward of Women in STEM Fields: A Case Study
Case study sought to explore the opportunities, challenges, and ways forward of women in STEM fields.