Women in the Nuclear Field: Progress and Pitfalls

While the international focus on gender issues has contributed to an increase in female participation in the nuclear field, including in leadership and policy-making positions, there is still much progress to be made. This was the message that Director of the International Organizations in Nonproliferation Program Gaukhar Mukhatzhanova delivered during Women in Nuclear Kazakhstan's first webinar on 24 June 2020.

During her remarks, Ms. Mukhatzhanova noted the rise to prominence that gender issues have had in recent years, including articles and studies on the role of women in the nuclear field, the under-representation of women in the field and the impact that this has on the field itself. In particular, she made reference to a study published by the UN Institute for Disarmament Research called "Still Behind the Curve."

Ms. Mukhatzhanova observed that the perception that the nuclear field is a "man's field" is a limitation to gender parity and that, since Kazakh independence in 1991, there have been only seven female Kazakh ambassadors. The good news, both for Kazakhstan and for the international policy community is that the conversation on gender parity in this nuclear field is gaining more salience.

In the context of nuclear negotiations, delegations have begun paying attention to gender, both in term of the disproportionate effect that radiation has on women and also ensuring that women take part in negotiations in substantive positions. However, there is still much progress to be made on gender parity.

Her full remarks are available below.

In addition, Sarah Bidgood, Director of the Eurasia Nonproliferation Program at the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies (CNS), also gave remarks. In particular, Ms. Bidgood highlighted CNS' Young Women in Nonproliferation Initiative.