[K-Women Talk] Budget Expansion: A Prerequisite for Gender Innovation in Science and Technology

Concerns Over 'Technical' Gender Discrimination Reproduced by AI
Gender Characteristics Must Be Reflected From the Start of Technological Innovation

Chai In-soon, Adjunct Professor at Paichai University

We have entered an era of technology and a civilizational turning point. Almost daily, new stories about science and technology emerge. Along with awe, there is also fear. There has been domestic and international reflection on issues such as AI chatbots delivering sexist or group-hate expressions and cases where AI interview processes provided gender-biased evaluation criteria. However, the possibility that gender inequality and human rights violations could be 'technically' reproduced remains significant.

Just as the 2021 U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study showed that COVID-19 vaccines are relatively less effective and have more side effects in women, gender characteristics are not well reflected in science and technology research. Despite global research trends showing notable differences in types of drug side effects and incidence rates by gender, it is still rare to hear such explanations from doctors, nurses, or pharmacists. Gender stereotypes also appear without exception?for example, heart disease is considered a male disease, and osteoporosis a female disease. Scientists have also found that dementia is more common in women, while autism spectrum disorder is relatively more common in men. Yet, there is no information on how effective recently FDA-approved dementia treatments are for women.

On the other hand, the misuse of science and technology can advance rapidly. As shown in the 2022 prostitution status survey analyzed by the Korea Institute of Criminology and Justice at the request of the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, recent patterns of prostitution have been widely promoted and spread through 'technical' means, expanding into mobile prostitution. Although science and technology are said to be neutral, in reality, they are produced and used under someone's good or not-so-good intentions or purposes. It is now difficult to escape a world dominated by science and technology. If science and technology are not gender-sensitive, concerns as women in an unequal society may grow even larger.

Fortunately, for more than a decade, there has been Gendered Innovation activity in the science and technology sector. Gendered Innovation activities arose from the awareness that gender participation and gender characteristics had not been sufficiently considered in the science and technology research process.

According to Lee Hye-sook, Director of the Korea Center for Science and Technology Gendered Innovation, “Gendered Innovation in science and technology is an inclusive innovation strategy and process that reflects gender characteristics throughout the entire research innovation process to provide a better life for everyone, regardless of gender or age.” Various organizations such as the World Health Organization, the European Union, the U.S. National Institutes of Health, and scientific journals like Nature encourage science and technology research that considers gender participation and gender characteristics.

What about us? Thanks to the efforts of women scientists, changes have been made to the Framework Act on Science and Technology. The Basic Plan for Science and Technology reflects characteristics such as gender, the government ensures that gender characteristic analysis of target technologies is included when conducting technology impact assessments, and it is stipulated that gender characteristic analysis is reflected in science and technology statistics and indicators. However, the problem lies in the budget.

The government has announced that it will increase the major science and technology R&D research budget for next year by about 3 trillion won to 24.8 trillion won, significantly expanding investment in three game-changing fields: advanced bio, AI and semiconductors, and quantum science and technology. This is very regrettable. While it is very important to concentrate investment in research related to future industries, it is equally important to invest in science and technology research that improves the lives of all citizens, regardless of gender or age. As research variables increase, expanding time and budget investment becomes a necessary condition. We hope that the practice of putting women 'later' for immediate development will not be repeated. We look forward to increased research budget investment for gender innovation in the upcoming government 2025 fiscal year budget approval and subsequent National Assembly review process.

Cha In-soon, Visiting Professor at Paichai University

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.