New Publication
 

Empowerment of Women through
Science and Technology Interventions

Women are a great human resource and their role in the society is vital for its progress. Market economy trends in the new era of globalization have widened the gap between education and technology opportunities for men and women. The involvement and engagement of women in the present day information society on an equal footing with men would directly contribute to improving the livelihood of people, making it more sustainable and thereby promoting the social and economic advancement of societies.

Science and Technology brings economic growth and well-being to people. Undoubtedly, science and technology can be vastly enriched through women's involvement, which closely links to the empowerment of women through science and technology. To reach this millennium goal, women empowerment may be through innovative scientific activities, integrating action oriented literacy, sound micro-finance and micro-enterprise training as well as an understanding of legal rights and advocacy. Apart from the efforts of the United Nations family of organizations, multilateral bodies and civil society, the positive role of women also depends on the supportive attitudes of their local family unit, the local community in each town and village.

This book is primarily based on the deliberations of the International Workshop on Empowerment of Women through Science & Technology Interventions held in Tehran, Iran from 14-16 December 2008, but a number of articles have been contributed by other eminent experts on the subject. 22 papers in this volume are expected to contribute to the understanding of how science and technology can contribute to the upliftment of the status of women and can empower them to gain their rightful place in the society. The data and materials presented in this volume would hopefully serve as a reference material for the professionals working in the field of women's empowerment.

LIST OF CONTENTS

  Foreword

Prof. Elzbieta Sawa-Czajka, Provost, University at Torun, Poland

 

  Foreword    
      

Dr. Eunice Rodriguez, Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics and Centre for Education in Family and  Community Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, California, USA



 

 Preface

 

Dr. Nirupama Prakash, Chief, Women Studies & Societal Development Unit Birla Institute of Technology & Science, India; Dr. Betty McLellan, Adjunct Associate, James Cook University Townsville, Australia; and Dr. Barbara Wejnert, Associate Professor, Department of Global Gender Studies, University at Buffalo, New York, USA


 

Introduction  
 

 Prof. Arun P. Kulshreshtha, Director, NAM S&T Centre
 

 

  
 

Part I: Gender Perspectives in Science & Technology: Issues & Challenges

  
  1.
 		 Areas of Weaknesses, Obstacles and Challenges to Economic Empowerment of Women in Developing Countries: Botswana's Current Status (Gloria Tini Seitei, Botswana)  
  2. Career Barriers for Women Engineers in Europe Transferability for Developing Countries (Felizitas Sagebiel, Germany)  
  3. Gender in Indian Science & Technology: Recognition of Excellence (Pranav N. Desai, India)  
  4. Women, Science and Technology: An Overview from Indonesia (Aisyiyah Jenie, Indonesia)  
  5. The Position of Women in Contemporary Iran (Akram Ghadimi, Iran)  
  6.
 		 Taking Action to Empower Women Scientists and Technologists through Women in Science and Technology Network (WISTNET) in Malawi (Meya Patricia Kalindekafe and Symon Osman Mandala, Malawi)  
  7.
 		 The Status of Women in Engineering in South Africa and the Efforts of SA WomEng to Facilitate the Absorption and Retention of Females in the Engineering Sector (Naadiya Moosajee, South Africa)  
  8. The Current Status of Women Scientists in Sri Lanka (P. R. M. P. Dilrukshi and Seetha I. Wickremasinghe, Sri Lanka)  
  9. Gender, Science and Technology in Tanzania: A Situation Analysis (Rose Rita Kingamkono, Tanzania)  
  10. Gender Challenges in Science and Technology in Democracies and Transitional Democracies (Barbara Wejnert, USA)  
  11. Country Report on Mauritius (Shamima Abdul Carrim Delbar, Mauritius)  
 

Part II: Women Development: Technology as a Tool for Empowering Women

  
  12. ICT as a Tool for Empowering Women: A Case Study of Rural Rajasthan (Nirupama Prakash, India)  
  13. Reaching the Un-Reached: Technology Model for Women's Empowerment and Sustainable Development (Vinita Sharma, India)  
  14. Women Empowerment to Women Capabilities: Bridging the Gap (Kavita Mehra, India)  
  15. Science and Women Empowerment in Iran (Shokouh Navabinejad, Iran)  
  16. Content Analysis of Web logs - Perspectives of Young Iranian Females (Zohreh Nosrat Kharazmi, Iran)  
  17. Economic Empowerment of Malaysian Women through Science and Technology: Identifying Issues, Providing Solutions (Poh Sez Choo,Malaysia)  
  18. Empowerment of Women through Science and Technology Interventions in Myanmar (Khin Htike Htike Lwin, Myanmar)  
  19. Empowerment of Nepalese Women through Science & Technology Intervention in Nepal (Kayo Devi Yami, Nepal)  
  20.
 		 Various Mechanisms Used by “Vidatha” Technology Transfer Programme for Economic Empowerment of Rural Women through S&T Interventions (Jayasamara Gunarathne, Sri Lanka)  
  21.
 		 Production of Low-Cost Complementary Foods Using Locally Grown Foods in Tanzania An Economic Empowerment of Women (Rose Rita Kingamkono, Tanzania)  
  22. Empowering Women through Science and Technology Interventions: The Case for Zambia (Atridah Mulonga, Zambia)