On 24th April 2024, Dr Fatou Bintou Sarr, Iba der Thiam Université de Thiès (Senegal); Dr Fatou Diop Sall, Université Gaston Berger (Senegal); Dr Elodie Giesèle Anoumedem Mouafo (Cameroon); Dr Bukola Omotomilola Adetola, (Nigeria); Dr Raquel Huete Nieves, Universidad de Alicante (Spain) have participated in the “HER Academic Story” discussion panel telling their experience, views and challenges when starting a research career as women in Senegal. This panel has ben moderated by Dr. Rosa María Martínez, Vice-Rector of International Relations and Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Alicante. This panel has taken place within the Institutional Event at UA & Study Visit of the Elevate-HER Project.
From the 1980s until relatively few years ago, Senegalese female researchers have had enormous complications and obstacles when it came to reconciling their academic life with their family life: compared to their male counterparts, they were forced to work longer working hours to absorb the days they have used for their maternity leave, greater effort is required of them to have a permanent position, in many cases they have been relegated to lower positions, they have been displaced to work in spaces far from their homes... The testimonies They speak for themselves.
Although the situation for African women researchers has improved much more and is no longer as discriminatory, it is still a challenge for them, as gender inequalities continue to be an obstacle to their career. The Senegalese female researcher not only has the role of supporting the family unit (associated in Africa de facto with her mother), but also of fighting to advance her professional career.
For them, it is positive to identify what they are passionate about in life, because they put all their effort and motivation into it to get ahead. In their case, they affirm that they fight to create an impact on future generations: they give advice to young university students and researchers, they fight to improve their situation and reduce inequalities. Despite all the effort that this important work entails, they passionately enjoy the opportunities they have been given and make the most of them. “With passion, you can create an impact on the next generations of Senegalese women researchers, they say.”
“Being a woman is an opportunity. As female researchers, we can impact and change the world. If you are passionate, just do it and go for it. You need to try to learn from others, accept errors and never give up. Being passionate changes the world”.