Women’s participation in the leadership of research projects at Embrapa (2007–2025)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36812/pag202632197-112Keywords:
Women in science, Gender disparity, Female leadership, Female participation, Agricultural research management, Gender and agricultural sciencesAbstract
This study examines female participation in the leadership of research projects at Embrapa from 2007 to 2025. A total of 6,867 projects registered in the Embrapa Project Management System (SEG) were examined using a descriptive quantitative and inferential approach. Women led 2,488 projects (36.2 %), a proportion statistically equivalent to their representation among the institution’s research staff (35.7 %; p > 0.05), which indicates distributive equity, although not gender parity. A statistically significant negative temporal trend was observed in the absolute number of projects for both genders (women: β = −3.66; p = 0.001; men: β = −7.28; p < 0.001), associated with an overall decline in project volume. However, the analysis of proportions showed no statistically significant linear trend in female participation (R² = 0.0609; p = 0.308), which fluctuated between 33.0 % and 39.6 % over the study period. Association tests (Chi-square and Mantel–Haenszel) confirmed structural stability in the gender distribution. Despite persistent male predominance, a slight reduction in relative gender inequality was observed. The findings indicate gradual progress in women’s leadership proportional to the available workforce base, which suggests that more substantial advances depend on structural policies targeting the scientific career pipeline in the agricultural sciences.
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