In previous blog posts we have commented How the government's research bill 2020 affects the balance between education and research and dimensioning of doctoral educationIn this post, we continue to reflect on the research bill, but now on a topic that has been unexpectedly absent, namely gender equality and sexual harassment.
The higher education sector has long had gender equality problems. Although 60% of undergraduate students are women, slightly fewer women than men start postgraduate studies. 80% of professors are men. It is clear that something is preventing women from staying in academia. Compared to the rest of Europe, gender equality in Swedish higher education is mediocre (see figure).
Figure: The proportion (percentage) of women among research and teaching staff and among professors in a number of selected countries in 2016. (From UKÄ annual report 2020. Original source ETER.)
To address this, universities have for some time had recruitment targets to ensure that the proportion of professors is more evenly distributed between women and men. The universities have also had a mandate on gender mainstreaming, which involves them analysing and implementing their activities with regard to how they affect gender equality. There is still much to be done. The goal must be for gender equality work at Swedish universities to be at the forefront in Europe.
The government already announced last autumn that both the recruitment targets and gender mainstreaming will remain in place. This is certainly good, but given the discussions in recent years, many had expected an increase in ambition.
An important part of gender equality work is actively preventing sexual harassment. Sexual harassment received a lot of attention with the #MeToo movement in the fall of 2017. Within higher education, it was mobilized through the Academy Appeal. This led to the Swedish Council for Higher Education being tasked with mapping the universities' preventive work against sexual harassment in academia, which was presented in a reportThe Swedish Research Council also produced an international research compilation on sexual harassment, which can be read here. hereThis has contributed to the image that academic culture is characterized by norms and practices that affect women and benefit men.
The risk of being exposed to sexual harassment is particularly high among those who are in a position of dependence, for example in the relationship between students and supervisors, or newly defended researchers within a research group. Doctoral students are highlighted as being particularly vulnerable.
It is strange that the research bill shows no ambitions in this area. The government is indeed investing in a research program against crime, which includes sexual harassment. In the long term, it is important, but it will be a while before the new research has an impact on the preventive work of universities. In the coming years, the work against sexual harassment must not stop or return to the same shortcomings as before 2017.
The government can still raise expectations of higher education institutions. It can instruct higher education institutions to prioritize preventive work against sexual harassment. There are also several authorities that could provide support and contribute to development.
Linn Svärd, Vice Chairman of SFS