The number of women employed in the international space industry represents just 20 to 22 per cent of the workforce, figures released by the UN show.

The figures were roughly the same proportion as 30 years ago.

To highlight this and other issues surrounding the push for gender equality, ‘Women in Space’ has been chosen as the theme for this year’s World Space Week, which began on Monday.

The week is an annual holiday observed from October 4 to 10 in over 95 nations worldwide.

The goal of the 2021 theme 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.

Gender inequality is a long-standing and widespread issue in education and careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields, both in developed and developing countries.

Recent research shows that women are still visibly underrepresented as researchers in STEM fields in all regions, averaging just 28.8 per cent globally.

Overall, the number of women in the aerospace industry has fluctuated at around 20 per cent for at least 30 years. Only 11 per cent of astronauts so far have been women.

To address some of the issues, the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) launched Space4Women, to promote women’s empowerment.

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 added.

Over 560 people have travelled 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 per cent 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 per cent of all jobs will require STEM-related skills, and women must possess skills and education to be competitive in the future employment market, says UNOOSA.

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.

(NAN)