The G-7 summit held in Biarritz in France, convened on 24-25 August 2019, kept the emphasis on an overarching theme ‘Fight Against inequalities’. More than 100 leaders from universities, non-governmental organizations, and corporations in the US and France honoured the attendance to undertake the same challenge.
The inauguration of the Paris-Boston Women’s Forum, a project initiated by the Consulate General of France in Boston held at Northeastern’s East village, brought leaders from both cities to tackle the systematic challenges the women face in higher education and carriers.
Joseph E.Aoun, president of Northeastern University says, “We have a lot of work to do when it comes to gender inequality.”
The meeting was held all day long on the challenges faced by women in the fields of labour, technology, politics, engineering, science, and private corporations. In specific, the meeting was called by the leaders to end gender-based violence, sexual harassment, ensure equitable, and quality education to women. It will promote economic empowerment and ensure full equality between women and men in public policies. The goals also include implementing exchange programmes between the US and French universities that are formulated specifically for highly skilled female professors.
The stereotypical mentality about women who belongs to technology prevents many young women to pursue engineering as their career. This stereotypical mind-set is broken by Carla Brodly, dean of the Khoury College of Computer Sciences in Northeastern.Carla Brodly implemented two programmes at her college. She has increased women undergraduate students from 21 to 31 percent in the master’s program in Computer Science which is designed specifically for women who are from a technology background.
Frederique Vidal, the minister of Research and Higher Education for the French government says,”We can easily notice that women are underrepresented in Science. I’m committed to bring the share of women scientists and students at 40 percent by 2022.” A panel on women’s involvement in public affairs explored the issue that women’s participation in society can flourish in their countries. Research demonstrates that women have greater awareness and concern about environmental issues. The countries that have a higher rate of women’s participation can adopt more stringent climatic change policies.
Shweta Tripathi