Creating a strong sense of community is one of the keys to bridging the gender equality gap in academia. Research shows that people who experience a supportive community with shared values are more likely to thrive together. This sense of belonging not only positively impacts personal well-being, but also promotes collective success.

Consider the following actions as the first steps in this direction:

1. Mentorship and Networking

• Create mentorship programs connecting female students and early-career researchers with experienced mentors
• Organize networking events for enriching the sense of community and connectedness

2. Promote Thoughtful Work-Life Balance Policies

• Support flexible work options and parental leave policies that fit different personal needs
• Cultivate a departmental culture that respects boundaries between work and personal life

3. Conduct Regular Gender Bias and Diversity Training

• Trainings that raise awareness about gender biases promote more inclusive behaviors
• Offer regular retrospective meetings that create an open space to bring up concerns about gender dynamics, workload distribution, and inclusivity

Charlotte Silander et al. highlight that we already witness a positive trend in increasing gender equality measures and practices in Swedish universities over the past decades. You can be the next one to drive change! Ask GenieAI about how to build an inclusive academic community and take the first step toward lasting progress

Take a look at these studies if you are curious to learn more:

• Equality Maturity Model: an actionable tool to advance gender balance in leadership and participation roles
• Principles of Practice for Academic/ Practice/Community Research Partnerships
• Gender equality in academia: a critical reflection