Africa-Press – Cape verde. Women scientists complain about the lack of references, of Cape Verdeans who serve as inspiration for young women who want to pursue a scientific career, they told Lusa, regarding the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
The area of exact sciences, engineering and technologies is dominated by men (66.8%) among students enrolled in Cape Verdean higher education, according to the most recent data, dating back to 2018.
At the end of 2023, in the scientific area of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) alone, there were around 500 male students and 200 female students.
“The hardest part is not having many female references, especially in my field, which is engineering,” researcher Any Pereira told Lusa.
The computer engineer, trained in Portugal, believes that if she had been a man “everything would have been easier”.
Any Pereira considers femininity as one of the factors that helps her “in professional excellence: women are more attentive to details”, she pointed out, classifying it as a “very important” point in science.
For the researcher, it is important to reinforce investment in the education of girls and women and show them references from other women in science, which can enable them to also see themselves as scientists.
“It’s continuous, long-term work. Femininity greatly benefits science, because women can focus on details in an insightful way. We have few female scientists, but those that exist are almost all excellent in their fields,” she added.
For her part, Sónia Semedo, a physics graduate in Praia, scientist and researcher, highlighted that women “bring a different point of view, allowing for greater inclusion and equity”.
However, he noted, men dedicate themselves more easily to research in Cape Verde as they have fewer family responsibilities.
Corrine Almeida, biologist and mother, told Lusa the effort to maintain availability and concentration, considering her task more difficult, compared to men.
The scientist, who also teaches, defends the creation of a statute that “reconciles both activities: teaching and research”.
The International Day of Women and Girls in Science, established in 2015 by the United Nations General Assembly, is celebrated every year on February 11 to promote female access to training and education in the field of science.
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