Strengthening and Expanding the Promoting Women in Peruvian Social Sciences Initiative: Grupo Sofia

This project seeks to empower women as social scientists to increase their visibility and participation in Peru's academic community. Women in social sciences There are important gender gaps in women's participation in social sciences in many Latin American countries, including Peru. In an effort to help reduce these gaps and to enhance women's visibility and participation in the academic community, the Steering Group of Women in the Social Sciences (Grupo Sofia) was formed in Peru in 2014. Through the leadership of Think Tank Initiative grantees, this effort sought to establish a network for research and the advancement of women's status in Peru's social science research community. About Grupo Sofia The initiative sought to address the lack of information on women's participation in social sciences in Peru. The project involved the creation of a women's directory of experts in various topics and specialized fields. It convened a series of researchers to draft short reflection papers on the various challenges faced by women in social sciences, higher education, and the labour market. These papers were presented at an academic event at the Universidad del Paci¿fico and published in the digital book, Under the Radar of Sofi¿a: Opportunities and Barriers for Professional Women in Peru. Replication success in other contexts This project seeks to strengthen and consolidate Grupo Sofia's initial work. The research team will deepen the phase one studies on the challenges and determinants of women's participation in social sciences. It will also develop a series of original studies on the trajectories of professional women in social sciences. These studies will include an analysis of gender dynamics in different institutional contexts in which women social scientists work. Based on this evidence, the project team will undertake a series of outreach and dissemination activities to -enhance awareness of the constraints women face as social scientists -inform action to lessen or change these constraints -promote women social scientists' visibility and empowerment The project will also support the expansion of Grupo Sofia to reach out to institutions outside Lima and to collaborate with institutions beyond Peru. The aim is to share the Grupo Sofia experience so that it can be adapted and replicated in other countries. Project leadership This project is made possible through the Think Tank Initiative (TTI). TTI is a multi-funder program dedicated to strengthening independent policy research institutions, or think tanks, in developing countries. The program aims to enhance their ability to provide sound research that informs and influences policy.