TY - JOUR
T1 - Quantitative datasets reveal marked gender disparities in Earth Sciences faculty rank in Africa
AU - Mosuro, Ganiyu Omotola
AU - Omosanya, Kamaldeen O.
AU - Lawal, Muhedeen Ajibola
AU - Oussou, Ahmed
AU - Oshomoji, Adeoye Olugbemi
AU - Neh Fru, Immaculate Mary
AU - Ratshiedana, Phathutshedzo Eugene
AU - Ndukwe, Otobong Sunday
AU - Rapholo, Maropene Tebello Dinah
AU - Eruteya, Ovie Emmanuel
AU - Alao-Daniel, Adedamola Beatrice
AU - Mohammedyasin, Seid
AU - Ajilore, Oluwatoyin
AU - Abdulmalik, Nana Fatima
AU - Ben Fredj, Soumaya
AU - Akinlalu, A. A.
AU - Lawal, Hammed A.
AU - Aturamu, Adeyinka Oluyemi
AU - Waswa, Aaron K.
AU - Oyeyemi, Kehinde D.
AU - Tahri, Ali Aboul Hacene
AU - Ibrahim, Yahaya Zayyana
AU - Mituku, Shambel
AU - Yaro, Usman Yahaya
AU - Ozigis, Mohammed S.
AU - Ibrahim, Sa'ad
AU - Isah, Hamisu
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2023/1
Y1 - 2023/1
N2 - As in most disciplines of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM), gender disparity is prevalent in the ranking of Earth Sciences faculties at senior and advanced levels. (i.e., Associate and Full Professors). In this study, a robust database was mined, created, and analyzed to assess the faculty compositions of 142 Earth Science departments in 39 countries across Africa. The data were collected from verifiable online resources focusing on ranks and gender ratios within each department. The studied earth science departments cut across universities in northern, southern, central, eastern, and western Africa. Our data revealed that female faculty members are predominantly underrepresented in most of the departments documented and are markedly uncommon in senior positions such as Professors, associate Professors, and senior researchers compared to their male counterparts. On the contrary, female faculty members are predominant in the lower cadres, such as lecturers, teaching, and graduate assistants. The observed male to female ratio is 4:1. At the base of this gender gap is the lower enrolment of female students in Earth Science courses from undergraudate to graduate studies. To achieve gender equality in Earth Science faculty composition in Africa, we recommend increasing female students' enrollment, mentoring, awareness, timely promotion of accomplished female researchers, and formulation of enabling government policies. More work-related policies that guarantee work-life balance for female earth science academic professionals should be formulated to attract and retain more women into Earth Sciences careers.
AB - As in most disciplines of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine (STEMM), gender disparity is prevalent in the ranking of Earth Sciences faculties at senior and advanced levels. (i.e., Associate and Full Professors). In this study, a robust database was mined, created, and analyzed to assess the faculty compositions of 142 Earth Science departments in 39 countries across Africa. The data were collected from verifiable online resources focusing on ranks and gender ratios within each department. The studied earth science departments cut across universities in northern, southern, central, eastern, and western Africa. Our data revealed that female faculty members are predominantly underrepresented in most of the departments documented and are markedly uncommon in senior positions such as Professors, associate Professors, and senior researchers compared to their male counterparts. On the contrary, female faculty members are predominant in the lower cadres, such as lecturers, teaching, and graduate assistants. The observed male to female ratio is 4:1. At the base of this gender gap is the lower enrolment of female students in Earth Science courses from undergraudate to graduate studies. To achieve gender equality in Earth Science faculty composition in Africa, we recommend increasing female students' enrollment, mentoring, awareness, timely promotion of accomplished female researchers, and formulation of enabling government policies. More work-related policies that guarantee work-life balance for female earth science academic professionals should be formulated to attract and retain more women into Earth Sciences careers.
KW - Africa
KW - Earth sciences
KW - Faculty position
KW - Gender-disparity
KW - Ranks
KW - STEMM
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85141533621&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2022.104768
DO - 10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2022.104768
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85141533621
SN - 1464-343X
VL - 197
JO - Journal of African Earth Sciences
JF - Journal of African Earth Sciences
M1 - 104768
ER -