February / March – Gender Equality
Within the University, work to ensure gender equality includes committing to strategic actions through institutional and School-level Athena Swan action plans, progressing work to tackle gender-based violence, providing a safe and inclusive environment for transgender and gender-nonconforming staff and students, supporting men’s health, and continuing to monitor the gender pay gap.
Athena Swan Charter
In March 2024, the University received a prestigious institutional Silver Athena Swan Award in recognition of its continued efforts to advance gender equality across the University. The award acknowledges the effort made by our community in advancing gender equality, but also identifies ambitious priorities and actions for the coming years.
In addition, all 18 Schools now hold Athena Swan Awards. School awards allow us to monitor and tackle persistent inequalities at a more granular level where these may differ within the context of individual Schools, as well as allow us to spot patterns across the University which can be escalated for institution-wide action.
Both our institutional application and action plan can be found on the Athena Swan webpages.
EmilyTest Charter
In November 2023, the University became the first university in the UK to receive the EmilyTest Charter Award, demonstrating our commitment to achieving a campus that is responsible in tackling sexual and gender-based violence. The University’s policies, practices and procedures were assessed by a trained independent panel following significant undertakings from staff and students in the bid to achieve accreditation.
Further information on University policies and resources to support gender equality can be found on the EDI webpages .
Learn
- Consider information presented in charter applications, university action plans and reports to better understand institutional priorities to tackle gender inequality (particularly work on our Athena Swan Charter and our Gender Pay Gap Reports) and reflect on your role within this work.
- Understand why members of our community think it is important to celebrate International Women’s Day and the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.
- Engage with the St Andrews Institute for Gender Studies (StAIGS) events, information and suggested reading to learn more about issues that range from feminism and women’s studies to masculine studies, queer theory, and sexuality studies. If you are interested in further study, you can also find further information on the MLitt Gender Studies programme on our website.
- Learn more about masculinity and issues affecting male equality through resources gathered by the School of Psychology and Neuroscience, and consider holding a Culture Club.
- If you are interested in exploring your gender identity or are transitioning, you may find useful information in the resources and information gathered by SaintsLGBT.
Do
- Join or sign post staff and students to relevant networks, including the Parents and Carers Staff Network, Women in Science at St Andrews (WISSA) for staff, and the Carers, Commuters, Mature and Flexible Learners Forum for students.
- Consider running, and take part in, events to raise awareness of gender equality, including during Sexual Abuse & Sexual Violence Awareness Week in the first full week of February, International Day of Women and Girls in Science on 11 February, International Women’s Day on 8 March and Women’s History Month in March, and the 16 days of activism campaign from 25 November to 10 December.
- Sign up, or encourage other female staff, to participate in the Elizabeth Garrett (for senior academic women) or Aurora (in grade 5 or above roles) mentoring programmes, designed to support women to develop in their roles.
- Add your pronouns to Teams and Outlook following these steps:
- Click on your name to go into the profile “card” where more information about you is available.
- Underneath your display name there is a “+Pronouns” button.
- Click on the Pronouns button and choose the pronouns that you wish to add.
- Click Save to complete the update of your Pronouns.
Community Reflection
Gender equality is a cornerstone of any fair and inclusive society
In my capacity as Chair of the University of St Andrews Athena Swan Implementation Group, I am privileged to oversee our institutional commitments toward advancing gender and intersectional equality as outlined in our 2024 Silver Athena Swan Institutional Award application and action plan.
In higher education, ensuring equal opportunity for individuals of all genders and backgrounds fosters a dynamic academic environment. Diverse perspectives drive innovative research, enhance teaching practices, and create richer experiences for every student and member of staff. By offering equitable access to resources, mentorship, and leadership positions, we dismantle the historic barriers that have too often excluded talented voices. In doing so, we also nurture an atmosphere that stimulates critical thinking and collaboration across all disciplines.
Members of the university have great strength in numbers and together we can make a hugely positive difference in the here and now, for the generations who come after us and far outside the walls of our historic University.
Gender Equality Month in March is a timely reminder for each of us to pause and consider how our own identities intersect with the world around us. I encourage everyone—regardless of gender or background—to stand as an ally, amplify voices that have gone unheard, and celebrate the strength diversity brings. Collectively, we hold the power to shape an environment where all can thrive, ensuring that our university—and society at large— benefits from meaningful and positive change towards true equality for all.
Events
- Reformation Seminar — Women’s History Month Annual Lecture — Dr Helen Williams (Northumbria), 26 March 2026
- Octavia Elfrida Saunders Memorial Lecture 2026: Craig Clunas, 1 April 2026
- Queer Tales: Women’s lives reenacted, 21 April 2026
- Earthbound: a public conversation on women, freedom and travel with Cristina Rivera Garza, 24 April 2026
- Hidden women of St Andrews, 2 July, 9 July, 16 July, 23 July 2026
EDI Project Fund
Funding is available to support projects and events that could enhance equality and inclusivity within and beyond St Andrews.
Projects funded through the EDI Project Fund with a focus on gender equality have included:
- “Picture a Scientist” Screening: Perspectives for Women in STEM
- Workshop on “Inspiring Women in Economics and Finance”
- Self-defence training for women
Book recommendations
Our colleagues in the library have provided some book recommendations on the topic of Gender Equality.
Freedom and equality: essays on liberalism and feminism (Clare Chambers)
A collection of essays in this collection covering a wide range of issues fundamental to liberalism, feminism, and their intersection.
Gender Equality in Academia: from Knowledge to Change (Holte, Øystein Gullvåg, et al.)
An in-depth study of why gender equality in academia is hard to achieve – and a study of actions and measures that work. Whilst the case studies related to Norway they are applicable in an international context.
Transitioning to Gender Equality (Binswanger, Christa; Zimmermann, Andrea)
In this volume, the authors focus on three main areas of inquiry, ‘Sexuality’, ‘Politics of Difference’ and ‘Care, Work and Family’.
Towards Gender Equality in Law: An Analysis of State Failures from a Global Perspective (Brayson, Kimberley, et al.)
This Open Access book aims to find out how and why states in various regions and of diverse cultural backgrounds fail in their gender equality laws and policies. The book maps out states’ failures in their legal systems and unpacks the clashes between different levels and forms of law.
If you prefer a film to a book, the Department of Film Studies have also created a playlist which highlights six 21st-century documentaries made by, and about, women: Women and Global Documentary – Centre for Screen Cultures
Have your say
Please contact [email protected] if you would you like to share your own reflections on the theme of Gender Equality or have any feedback on the Diversity Calendar webpages.