Women in research and academia workshop
- Wits University
It was a great experience chairing the ”Women in Research and Academia” panel on 11 March, which took place a few days after International Women’s Day. It’s always a valuable time to discuss the current realities of gender inclusion in systems and structures not originally built with this equity in mind.
I am grateful to Professor Nicole De Wet-Billings and Dr. Omolabake Fakunle who openly shared their experiences as women negotiating and navigating their positions in academia, and to Dr. Seth Amanfo, who shared pragmatic suggestions of male allyship. The panelists created an open and honest online space, and generously shared their experiences to a diverse cohort of scholars and fellows from across Africa and the UK. As chair of the panel, I wanted to ensure panelists felt as safe as possible as they bravely shared reflections from their lived experience, which requires vulnerability. Such hard-won life lessons of the panelists can be easily consumed by a passive audience… but such sharing requires action!
I came away from the session feeling inspired to create more in-person and online spaces for women to come together to share their experiences. The one-hour session only scratched the surface of themes such as the importance of representation of women in leadership roles and how this could be supported in a less tokenistic way; the oppression of imposter syndrome – both internalized and externally given; how can we encourage women to take a seat at the table rather waiting for invitations; and the importance of career mentorship and seeking diverse mentors.
Such spaces are important, informative, and healing for women, especially those facing misogyny and racism in academia. I think of reports of the disgusting treatment of Labour MP Dianne Abbot and think of how far we still have to go in our society to value and respect the individual, but felt encouraged by the session that spaces of sharing can bring voice to the diverse experiences of women in academia, spaces of reassurance, and courage to continue to engage in more equitable and systemic change across universities.
Sharon Boateng, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Manager (Edinburgh).
| Prof Nicole De Wet-Billings | Dr Omolabake Fakunle | Dr Seth Amanfo |
|---|---|---|
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Here’s what two of the attendees had to say:
“The workshop created a safe space; it resonated with me so much as a young woman who want to be in academia. Hearing from the panel, not only women but men as well, about challenges and experiences gave me hope. Such workshops give us tools to prepare for an existence in academia that is kinder, empowering, inclusive and encouraging for women to lead in research and academia. Thank you to WESAF Doctoral Programme for creating a platform that tackled a still much sensitive issue but also allowing women in research and academia to share their experiences in their own voice.”
Sibongile Mlotya, Mastercard Foundation WESAF Fellow (University of the Free State)
“Having female leaders and role models in the organizations can help inspire other women and demonstrate that it is possible to succeed professionally while also managing family responsibilities. I personally had encountered a challenged with my male manager who didn’t understand why must I take all days given by the doctor to nurse my sick child. I was expected to leave my sick child with the helper and come to work. Which I stood firm about it and asked myself how many female leaders are going through this, and that can't stand up to their male managers? By driving this initiative we will indeed assist those are being discriminated and dying silently.”
Phumzile Mathabe, Mastercard Foundation WESAF Fellow (University of Witwatersrand)
For more information on the WESAF Doctoral Programme, visit our website.
For more information about the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Edinburgh, visit our website