National gender policy for Rwanda: a case study of institutional response to policy recommendations on women in science and technology

The purpose of this study was to explore the question of poor representation of women in science and technology in two academic institutions of Rwanda. Those are the National University of Rwanda (UNR) and Kigali Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). By exploring institutional factors underlying the said question, the study has complemented previous works on the same subject, which placed an emphasis on social, economic and cultural factors. Data were collected through archival exploration, in-depth face-to-face interviews and focus groups discussions. Exploration of archives was mainly based on gender policies existing within the concerned institutions, and their compliance with Rwanda national gender policy. Access of women to science and technology, and their participation in these areas were the key elements that guided the exploration of relevant policies and various discussions with participants. In-depth interviews were conducted with men and women teachers at the concerned academic institutions and high government officials from the Ministry of Gender and Family Promotion, and Rwanda Parliament. Focus group interviews targeted men and women students from the third year level of study and above from the concerned areas. Discussed questions were given in an open-ended form. Through the exploration of existing policies and thematic analysis of qualitative data, the study revealed three main areas of gender inequalities. Those are decision making, infrastructure and academic cultures. It was found that the poor representation of women in decision-making affects the rest of these areas and their interconnectedness proved to be the key explaining the under-representation of women in science and technology. The study concludes that in the current form, the concerned institutions are embedded with forces that contribute to women's discrimination, especially in the areas of science and technology, which remain the preserve of men. It gives recommendations on how to address gender inequalities in the highlighted areas.

Grantor

Gender Studies

Year dc:date.issued

2005

Author dc:creator

• Kimonyo, Augustin

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Mama, Amina

• gender studies

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/38310

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/38310