VIENNA, OCTOBER 5 – The number of women employed in the international space industry represents just 20-22% of the workforce, according to figures released by the UN, roughly the same proportion as 30 years ago. Only 11% of astronauts so far, have been women.
For Simonetta Di Pippo, UNOOSA’s Director, equality is the pre-condition for a better future: “Space for women means strengthened awareness, capacity, and skills, empowering young women and girls globally and promoting gender equality,” she said as ‘Women in Space’ has been chosen as the theme for this year’s ‘World Space Week’, which began on Monday. The goal is to bring more awareness to the issue of gender diversity and identify the obstacles that women are facing when entering space-related careers and contribute to discussions on ending disparities. The UN also wants to show how women from different backgrounds and regions, face different issues and challenges within the industry.
Over 560 people have traveled to space, but less than 70 of them are women. Of the 225 spacewalks that have been taken, only 15 were by women. Women CEOs also represent 19% of the leaders in aerospace and defence, even though space tends to offer high earning jobs in a fast growing sector, providing women with more financial freedom and empowerment. In the future, 90% of all jobs will require Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) related skills and women must possess skills and education to be competitive in the future employment market, says the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) which launched the Space4Women initiative to promote women’s empowerment in space by encouraging women and girls to STEM education and raises awareness about career opportunities and the importance of gender equality and empowerment in the space sector. According to the UN, to succeed in addressing the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, the world must ensure that the benefits of space reach women and girls and that women and girls play an active and equal role in space science, technology, innovation, and exploration. (@OnuItalia)
