Mulheres na ciência do solo no Brasil: um recorte histórico acadêmico e profissional

Abstract

Agricultural and soil sciences have historically displayed a significantly unequal gender composition. This issue is further exacerbated by a lack of demographic and gender studies, hindering both the discussion and the formulation of strategic actions to correct inequities. The main objective of this research was to document and analyze an academic and professional historical snapshot of women in soil science in Brazil, with the aim of understanding the presence, evolution, and recognition of women in this scientific field over time. To achieve this, two specific objectives were established: i) to conduct an overview of gender studies in agricultural sciences and soil science, identifying the main trends, gaps, and research opportunities; ii) to conduct the first demographic survey of Brazilian soil science, focusing on the gender composition over time at different academic and professional levels, as well as peer recognition. In this thesis, two studies cover each of the objectives. Study I presented a bibliometric and bibliographic review of gender studies published in agricultural and soil sciences, using the Web of Science and Scopus databases (1975-2022). Part of the literature was synthesized and discussed from both historical and contemporary contexts. The geographic distribution of publications, main journals, trends, and research gaps were identified. Study II covered metrics of students and faculty from all Brazilian graduate programs (2004-2021); and members, representatives, and awards of the Brazilian Soil Science Society (SBCS) (1947-2023). The results of Study I revealed that 50% of the publications (n = 50) were conducted after 2016. Few gender publications in soil science were found, with limited visibility and concentration in specific journals, such as special issues on the theme. There is a significant gap in research with national scope, intersectional analyses, and evaluations of equity policies. The results of Study II showed that, in 2021, gender parity in doctoral enrollments was achieved, and women aged 25 to 29 became the majority of students. The presence of women in faculty is still low (19% in 2021) and there is greater representation in soil biology. The faculty shows a trend towards aging, especially among men, indicating a potential wave of retirements in the coming years. The SBCS is mainly composed of men professors, and women represent only 30% of affiliations. There has been a sharp decline in the overall number of affiliates over the past 10 years, especially among students. In the SBCS, women are a minority in representative positions and less recognized through awards. The current scenario of Brazilian soil science reflects broader systemic and cultural barriers, underlining the urgent need for the implementation of strategic actions at individual, collective, and institutional levels to correct inequities. By highlighting the positive impact of equity, diversity, and inclusion, this thesis aims to contribute to the evolution and innovation of knowledge in soil science, filling a significant gap in the existing literature.