Climate change and gender with Prof. Clare Kelso – University of Johannesburg

This week on Womanity-Women in Unity, Dr. Amaleya Goneos-Malka talks to Prof. Clare Kelso, who heads up the Department of Geography, Environmental Management & Energy Studies at the University of Johannesburg. Our conversation considers the impact of #climatechange on female farmers, noting the intersectionality of power dynamics that exacerbates the vulnerability of women to climate change, notably fewer opportunities to education, lack of land ownership and limited access to financial resources. We reflect on driving necessary change within existing systems from the inside out, e.g. for female leaders to adjust the mechanics of their workplaces to lift barriers that impede women’s success by redesigning systems that no longer serve the interests of the workforce and society. We recognise that in academic sectors there is a tendency for women to spend disproportionately more time than men on activities (like teaching) that have a lower weighting on promotional score cards, which hinders career advancement. Prof. Kelso remarks on resilience as an important attribute in the pursuit of success. Tune in for more.