In the wind sector, the main barriers to women’s entrance in the workforce are perception of gender roles, cultural and social norms followed by lack of gender targets, prevailing hiring practices, self-perception, workplace policies and lack of awareness of opportunities.

Remarkably, the survey highlights that the lack of a STEM or non-STEM background is a less relevant barrier for women wanting to work in the sector compared to other barriers such as perception of gender roles and the persistence of certain social and cultural norms. In other words, the majority of respondents are confident that women working in the field are properly prepared to enter the sector. 

In light of these findings, it is necessary to re-think the cultural biases and gender stereotypes that often keep women from pursuing STEM careers, most importantly ensuring that globally women and men have access to transformative and empowering education where gendered career paths are challenged starting from an early age.

There is no perfect formula for diversity, but a wide range of initiatives can be taken from re-thinking hiring practices, creating more flexible and inclusive work environments and ensuring that women are represented at the decision-making level are some helpful measures.