An approach to women scientists and parasitologists in Latin America and the Caribbean from a gender perspective

Abstract

Since many centuries, women have been involved in science contributing to knowledge without the 1appropriate recognition and value, although the XX and XXI centuries have seen a clear advance in this recognition. On the other hand, in the XXI century, interdisciplinary work is urgently needed for sustainable development, meaning inclusive growth and work both for the Global North and the Global South, for example, incorporating more intensively women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math careers (STEM). But STEM fields are bedecked by gender biases minimizing the presence of women and girls, i.e., by unequal access to education, as well as to senior positions within the hierarchical pyramid, even in the academic world. Still marvelous women and girls, trespass paradigms and seek challenges to be solved. Their work has changed the way we see our world and we do science. Equal opportunities mean, for each woman and for the society, an improvement on the concept of economic security, talented workforce, and self-respect of women. Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) represent 8.6 percent of the world population, and only 3.6 percent of the world’s scientists come from LAC. However, according to data from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS), 33 per cent of researchers in LAC are women, far above the world average of 28 per cent. But what is the real panorama in the LAC countries? Through the following article we have performed documentary research for collecting and selecting information to highlight the role women have had for the development of science, and specially Parasitology in LAC. We tell stories deserving to be told of some of the pioneers in Parasitology that have worked in these themes in LAC and present the now days panorama of Parasitology in LAC. Some of the protagonists are deceased; for those who are alive we established a cutoff for those women parasitologists that were born up to 1947-1948, highlighting researchers that were born in the first half of the XX century. The reason, 1947-1948 established a fundamental point of inflexion in women development in the world and in science. At year 1947, the Commission of Status of Women from the United Nations was established. Finally, we stress that initially, male mentors were the common; however, women have gained a relevant place in science in 40 LAC as a promise for a more equitable world science to come.