The objective of this webinar was to avoid any potential gender bias forming within the project and while developing the MAGNO platform for social engagement and consumer acceptance. To achieve this, HOLOSS organised a seminar in which recommendations and instructions were provided on how to integrate the gender dimension into the research and innovation activities of the project. Beyond this seminar, during the overall project, HOLOSS will monitor and foster that the gender balance is maintained in MAGNO decision-making processes. The seminar began with an explanation of fundamental concepts, such as:
- The distinction between the terms “sex” and “gender,” where “sex” refers to biological and physiological traits that identify a person as female or male, and “gender” refers to socially constructed attitudes, behaviours, identities, relationships, and opportunities that come with identifying with a particular gender.
- The significance of intersectionality, the idea that gender should not be viewed in isolation because there are numerous other social characteristics that are entwined, and gender equality, the notion that people of different genders have equal opportunities;
- In addition, the following words are explained in accordance with the 2011 Toolkit Gender in EU-funded research:
3.1 Gender sensitive research: when gender is consistently taken into account throughout the research cycle;
3.2 Gender specific research: when research centers on gender itself as a subject matter;
3.3 Gender-blind research: when research does not take gender into account;
3.4 Gender bias in research: when one gender is placed in a hierarchical position relative to the other.
The current session proceeded to mainly concentrate on gender mainstreaming in research and innovation (R&I) and the significance of gender equality within Horizon Europe, keeping in mind the European Commission’s Gender Equality Strategy 2020–2025. In light of this, the three main levels of Horizon Europe’s approach to addressing gender equality were identified as follows:
- Having a Gender Equality Plan (GEP), which is now is an eligibility criterion for certain categories of legal entities from EU countries and non-EU countries associated to Horizon Europe.
- The inclusion of a gender dimension in research and innovation content by default which is required and evaluated under the excellence criterion.
- Increasing gender balance throughout the programme as another objective of the programme.
To see the results from the regions (Europe and MENA) as well as the nations that make up MAGNO’S Consortium, data from She Figures’ most recent release (2021) and The Global Gender Report (2023) were also analyzed. This was done in order to give the partners a broad awareness of both their own and the other countries’ situations regarding the Gender Dimension.Finally, in addition to the recommendations made by HOLOSS for improving the gender aspect of the MAGNO project, the seminar provided a forum for discussion, knowledge-sharing, and learning among all Consortium members about the integration of gender into our project.
As example of these biases, within this discussion, the MAGNO consortium did identified current on going biases in the project visuals, mainly linking scientist positions with masculine out of the depiction of scientits. The consortium decided to tackle this by opting for a more neutral depiction of scientits. Below can be found an example of this action:
The MAGNO project will continue to place gender parity at the forefront of its efforts.
