Mulheres em STEM: análise das experiências da atuação em posições de liderança na administração pública federal brasileira

Abstract

This descriptive qualitative research sought to analyze the experiences of women in STEM holding leadership positions in the Brazilian Federal Executive Public Administration, identifying the challenges and opportunities faced by these women. Using a semi-structured interview guide, online interviews were conducted with 12 tenured female federal public servants, who are highly qualified and hold leadership positions, from 11 different bodies of the Federal Public Administration. The identified barriers are multiple and interconnected, including gender stereotypes, discrimination, wage inequality, a lack of effective public policies, and an absence of consistent institutional initiatives to promote equity. The results reveal that their experiences during STEM education were marked by challenges such as being a minority, teacher discrimination, harassment, and financial difficulties, which were overcome through individual strategies, informal support networks, and family encouragement, given the absence of specific institutional policies. As leaders, these women demonstrate proactivity and creativity, seeking continuous qualification and developing interpersonal and technical skills to promote change and overcome the lack of formal support. No specific actions were identified to promote women in STEM to leadership positions, with the LideraGov program being the only leadership training initiative mentioned, although it is not STEM-specific and has limited slots. The study concludes that, despite formal equality in access to public positions, women face a "labyrinth" of challenges and subtle forms of discrimination. The "glass ceiling" phenomenon is evident, with lower female representation at the highest leadership levels, even with superior qualifications. For Black and Brown women, intersectionality exacerbates these obstacles, characterizing a "concrete ceiling." The study points to the need for specific public policies, affirmative actions, an inclusive organizational culture, and formal recognition to ensure the full and effective participation of these women, highlighting that strengthening governance, budgeting, and the valuing of people are fundamental axes for structural transformations in the public scientific and technological sector, contributing to a more representative, efficient Public Administration aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals. Although the research covers various bodies of the Federal Public Administration, it focuses only on women in the Executive Branch, not covering women in the Judiciary and Legislative Branches, which presents an opportunity for future research.