FEMM

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION BY COMMITTEE  ON WOMENS’ RIGHTS AND GENDER EQUALITY (FEMM)

Women in STEM: While some economic sectors are almost gender-equal, there is a large gender gap among scientists and engineers. This disparity manifests itself in some Member States and regions more than in others, for example, in Luxembourg women make up only 28% of all scientists and engineers. How can the EU tackle this inequality?

Submitted by:  Irem Afacan, Felix Crawford, Rebecca Reuvekamp, Tommie Steenwinkel, Órla Stockmann, Liv Straat, Wouter Verheijen, (Ruben Rosaria, Chair NL)

The European Youth Parliament,

  1. Noting with deep regret that women make up only 30% of the information and communications technology (ICT) workforce and occupy less than 7% of tech positions in Europe,
  2. Contemplating the discrimination of women in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) sector with regard to:
    1. salary,
    2. opportunities,
    3. access to research funding, 
  3. Bearing in mind that closing the STEM gap would lead to a EUR 610-820 billion boost of the EU’s total GDP by 2050, 1STEM gap refers to the discrepancy between males and females working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. 
  4. Aware of the prevalence of gender biases and stereotypes in the STEM sector, which discourages women from pursuing a career in these fields,
  5. Concerned by the lack of encouragement, support, and practical experiences for girls in STEM subjects over the course of their education,
  6. Realising the lack of female role models in the STEM sector who might be able to encourage girls to pursue a career in this field,
  7. Observing the differences in STEM gender ratios across Member States;
  1. Asks UN Women to evaluate companies within the EU regarding their gender dynamics yearly;
  2. Calls upon the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion (DG EMPL) to create a certificate for companies that have at least 45% female employees;
  3. Encourages Member States to financially support companies with more than 45% female employees; 
  4. Asks the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) to expand their services by:
    1. including an academic scholarship fund for women,
    2. expanding the accessibility of mentors for women in STEM;
  5. Seeks Member States to set minimum wages for employment;
  6. Calls upon Member States to mandate equal amounts of parental leave for men and women;
  7. Calls upon the EIGE to organise various informational campaigns, such as:
    1. seminars,
    2. videos,
    3. sending representatives to organisations and schools;
  8. Encourages media corporations to address the STEM gap by:
    1. devoting equal screen time to male and women,
    2. combating stereotypes in media;
  9. Calls upon the European Commission to create an annual conference for gender equality and women’s rights.