Goal 5: Gender equality

Our research

In late 2022, a researcher from Bristol’s Centre for Gender and Violence Research was awarded €1.5 million in ERC funding for a study into sexual misconduct and abuse against adults by people in professional roles such as doctors, police officers, and the military. Founded in 1990, the Centre has a long history of research on gendered violence, exploring issues around domestic, sexual, “honour”-based, and reproductive violence, abuse and harm. Other recent studies have looked into areas such as early intervention policy in domestic violence cases, the scale and dangers of forced marriage, and the use of prescription medication as a tool of coercion in abusive relationships.

A co-produced, participative study between Bristol academics, partner researchers in South America, and women in Colombia in 2022/23 explored the ways in which women farmers are, and can be, empowered to participate in transitions to more sustainable, more peaceful, and more equitable ways of living. The research particularly aimed to place the women at the centre, reflecting and supporting their agency and their role in an area struggling with high levels of violence, displacement and conflict.

Our students

A new Philosopher Queens unit was offered to students for the first time in 2022, with the aim of helping to diversify the traditionally male-heavy, western-centric philosophy curriculum. It is offered alongside a range of other philosophy modules and teaches often-overlooked female thinkers such as 4th century AD philosopher and astronomer Hypatia and modern-day thinkers like bell hooks, the Black rights and feminist activist. By offering a more diverse view of philosophers, the course aims to help more students see philosophy as something for them.

We continue to support students from genders currently under-represented in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) into these fields, including through activities such as our annual Underrepresented Genders in Mathematics event. This event aims to encourage students to continue their studies to graduate level and beyond, and in 2022, featured talks from mathematicians working both in universities and industry, offering students insight into the potential career paths that mathematics can open up.

Our communities

The Enterprising Women programme ran for a third year in 2022/23, offering free business support for female entrepreneurs in the Bristol area. Funded by NatWest, this programme is provided by SETsquared Bristol, the University-led technology incubator in the city. Through the programme, women are able to access expert business support, workshops, mentoring and coaching, and a network of businesses, advisors and investors, in a supportive, inclusive environment.

Students at University of Bristol Law School have been working with local solicitors firm Lyons Davidson and the charity Next Link to provide free legal advice to women seeking help. Next Link provide support services for those affected by domestic or intimate partner violence, particularly in relation to housing and mental health. Students are able to support women on issues around family law, with some cases taken on formally through the University’s Law Clinic.

Ourselves

In 2022, Bristol welcomed our first female Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Evelyn Welch. Professor Welch is the 14^th Vice Chancellor of the University, and the first woman to hold this role since the University was founded in 1909. She brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to helping everyone achieve their potential.

The University achieved a highly commended institutional Athena Swan Silver award in 2023 and also received a rare Gold award for our School of Biochemistry. The awards recognise progress in tackling gender-based inequality through measures in areas such as broadening promotions criteria, our women’s mentoring scheme, targeted development programmes, and increasing access to opportunities like conferences and training events.

We are also working to address the gender pay gap, developing targeted, innovative, effective interventions, setting clear, ambitious targets, and monitoring progress. In 2023, our mean gender pay gap had reduced by 5.6% since 2017. But there is still work to do, and our Athena Swan action plan sets out our ambitions and a programme for continued improvement on the pay gap and other areas between now and 2027.