National culture and policy institutionalizing workplace change: supporting women's career progression in STEM through Athena SWAN

There is a need to take into account environmental factors such as national culture and policy when seeking to progress women’s workforce participation and advancement in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This chapter describes why this environmental scaffolding must be accompanied by micro-level organizational initiatives that focus on systematically embedding gender equality. It details the accelerating potential of formal micro-level organizational interventions, outlining their value and efficacy in removing multi-layered gender inequalities and in mainstreaming gender equality best practice through workplace cultures. One such initiative, Athena SWAN, supports the systematic embedding of gender equality best practice in third-level educational institutions and supersedes previous episodic initiatives undertaken in pockets around universities and led by individuals. Drawing on the perspective of the University of Limerick, the chapter details the benefits and contribution of Athena SWAN to supporting women’s career progression, presenting relevant data from STEM, as well as outlining its associated challenges.