University of Aveiro holds open event in Aveiro, Portugal!

On 15 May 2024, the University of Aveiro (UA) held a dissemination of the GUIDE project at the Bootcamp event, which was attended by 11 students and some teachers from the Polytechnic Institute of Viseu Dão-Lafões, in the city of Aveiro in Portugal.

 

At the Bootcamp event, the GUIDE project held an integrated workshop with a session entitled ‘In Search of Equality: Reflections on Gender Disparity in the European Parliament’, which featured Lorena Bittencourt, a research fellow from the Department of Economics, Management, Industrial Engineering and Tourism (DEGEIT). The session addressed issues related to gender representativeness in the political context, specifically covering the European Parliament.

The event offered a unique opportunity to present the latest advances in the GUIDE project, highlighting the digital tool that has been developed. This tool serves as a basis for everyone to reflect on the persistence of unconscious gender stereotypes in their perceptions of different professional options.

During the Open Event, a preliminary analysis of the gender gap was carried out, emphasising the under-representation of women in political positions. During the session, the challenges perceived by women developing political careers were discussed, particularly those orientated towards reaching leadership positions in the European Parliament. It was also presented in detail, namely its objectives and the main results of the GUIDE project, as well as the digital tool. In addition, a group dynamic called ‘Electoral Campaign Simulation: Towards Gender Equality’ was conducted, prompting discussion about gender inequalities in the European Parliament.

The event, held at the University of Aveiro, made it possible to raise awareness of the importance of gender stereotypes in the under-representation of women in European politics. And, through group dynamics, with the aim of sensitising participants to the issues of gender stereotypes in the professions, leading them to reflect on the topic. To this end, the event’s participants expressed their interest in the project’s products and results. The event received positive feedback in its quality evaluation.