JIVE - Creating Change for Women & Girls in Science, Engineering, Construction and Technology

JIVE Products and Resources - Transnational Research

Gender @ Work is the transnational partnership within the ESF EQUAL Project consisting of JIVE at the UKRC, Reducing Causes of Professional Segregation (ProfEqual) in Riga Latvia and Futur@, young women and ICT in Tenerife, Spain.

An objective of the partnership is to create linkages between researchers in the 3 countries, developing the knowledge base and exchanging learning in order to underpin the delivery activities within the education, local government and industry sectors. Our Partners in Riga are currently conducting the following research:

Analysis of Development Strategies of Municipalities in Latvia
Time: October 2005 – November 2006
Researcher: Baltic Project Consulting Ltd.
Latvia Contact details: Ms. Sanita Vanaga.
Report language: Latvian
During the research, documents of development strategies of four municipalities of Latvia - Valmieras, Ventspils, Jelgavas and Daugavpils – were analysed from professional segregations and gender equality point of view. Researchers also found out opinions of local residents and entrepreneurs on recognizability of the development strategies and stereotypes about so called women and men professions as well as gender discrimination. Expert of economics and finances analysed social and economical effects caused by professional segregation as well as potential financial benefits and losses of each municipality.
Click here for the full research document here (PDF 1MB).

Quantitative Research on Stereotypes and Causes of Professional Segregation in Latvia
Time: September 2005 – September 2006
Researcher: Society of Latvian Organisational Psychologists, Latvia
Contact details: Mr. Ivars Austers
Report language: Latvian
Results of the research uncover factors that define the willingness or unwillingness of the population of Latvia to work in technical fields. It also analyses people’s views about so called “women’s” and “men’s” professions.
Click here for the full research document (PDF 431KB).

Qualitative research on stereotypes and causes of professional segregation in Latvia
Time: September 2005 – September 2006
Researcher: Society of Latvian Organisational Psychologists, Latvia
Contact details: Mr. Ivars Austers
Report language: Latvian
Researchers have found out what gender-driven stereotypes usually were attributed to those working in technical fields as well as how these stereotypes were related to professional segregation, individual prejudices and individual values.
Click here for the full research document. (PDF 371KB)

Evaluation of study aids of exact sciences from gender equality point of view in Latvia
Time: September 2005 – April 2006
Researcher: Daugavpils University, Latvia
Contact details: Ms. Eridiana Olehnovica
Report language: Latvian
During the research the representation of gender roles in study aids of exact sciences approved by the Ministry of Education and Science of Republic of Latvia was studied. Researchers analysed the study aids of physics, chemistry and IT developed for both elementary and secondary school students of comprehensive schools of Latvia. The aim of the research was to understand suitability and topicality of the study aids for both genders.
Click here for the full research document (PDF 373KB).

Professional Plans and Views of School Students from forms 8 and 11 in Latvia
Time: September 2005 – April 2006
Researcher: Professional Career Counselling State Agency, Latvia
Contact details: Ms. Ineta Zilvinska
Report language: Latvian
The research reveals students’ stereotypes about gender roles in Latvia labour market. It also uncovers their impression about contents of different professions, their professional plans and their attitude towards studying.
Click here for the full research document (PDF 2.3MB).

Promoting Women’s Entrepreneurship in Technology Sectors: Good Practice Examples from the EU and Other Countries
Time: August 2005 – December 2006
Researcher: Jolana Novakova, Society Integration Foundation, Latvia
Contact details: Ms. Jolana Novakova
Report language: English
In this study, the position of women in technology-based entrepreneurship is analysed and examples of good practice as well as recommendations on how to promote women entrepreneurship in this area are presented.
Click here for the full research document (PDF 864KB).

Facilitating and hindering factors of women participation in entrepreneurship in technology sectors in Latvia
Time: August 2006 – April 2007
Researcher: Technology Development Forum, Latvia
Contact details: Ms. Gunita Circene
Report language: Latvian
The research uncovers facilitating and hindering factors that have influence on women’s choice and possibilities to get into entrepreneurship in technical fields in Latvia – mainly information technologies, electrical engineering and electronics as well as mechanical engineering and metalworking. Researchers have analysed legislation and statistical data and have done surveys with women-specialists and women-entrepreneurs in both technical and non-technical fields.
Click here for the full research document (PDF 1.7MB).

Other research

Cross cultural comparison of women in SET in East/West Europe
Research being carried out by Clem Herman at the Open University with support from Anna Zalevski at the UK Resource Centre for Women in SET. The aim of the study is to examine how women’s identities and careers as scientists, engineers or technologists, are affected by the changing political and social frameworks in which they live and work, using contrasting case studies from Latvia, Poland and the UK. The research is exploring the relationship between private and public understandings of these identities from a cross-cultural perspective. A literature review is currently being carried out, and interviewees being identified and contacted – interviews are planned for July and August 2006. Latvian transnational partners have been involved in supporting the research process and will take part in further consultation.

Women in the Construction Industry - Contrasting Cultures and Motivators for Women - a European Study
This research project, conducted by Jenny Fortune at Sheffield Hallam University, aims to gather examples of groups of women working proactively in construction across Europe to draw out the influences and drivers that lead to success in a very male dominated industry. The project is running alongside another similar study that looks beyond Europe to the world in order to bring findings together and maximise results. The research is at data collection phase and countries included so far are UK, Spain and Latvia.