parallel session 2 (breakout room 1

sustain themselves. How to make women understand the real scenario/facts about the pandemic and influences on new rituals? In this context the study looks into these angles (1) Contradicting roles of women in the ritual landscape (2) Psychological conditioning of women (3) Transformation of the ritual landscape (4) Reasons for the transformation (5) Vat Savitri @ MP (6) Corona Maayi - Goddess. 4. the culture of sPiritual connectedness to nature: toWards sustainable Water manaGement in south india Rondine Twist, Esq., Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri

Highlights The study focuses on sustainable management of water. Water is connected to nature and us. In this context does spiritual understanding impact this connectedness. A spiritual connectedness to nature implies reverence towards nature. In South Indian water-based communities, the livelihoods, and economic, social & cultural activities revolve around the water bodies. There is a traditional culture of reverence towards the water bodies. The study looks into communities at a village level that live near water bodies, and how their culture and spirituality are connected to water. The research proposes plans to use culture and spirituality in the training and intervention processes at a community level. The anecdote from Amma’s life, and related research, suggest that spiritual connection to water can leverage sustainable water management. However, in recent times, spiritual practices have been lost, and the connectedness with nature/water has also been lost. Where spiritual connection has been lost, reconnecting the people with nature can play a vital role in addressing the sustainability challenges. This theory will be tested through further field research. There has been a strain on water resources. The study plans to use culture and spirituality in the training and intervention.

5. internal miGration and feminization of labour amonG refuGees: the Post-Pandemic role of female refuGees in adaGon refuGee settlement Bernard Attah Otu, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri Highlights This study seeks to explore the different post-pandemic roles of female refugees and how these roles have influenced and shaped household livelihood and migration aspirations. There has been a reported increase in women participation in labour among the refugees. There is a growing incidence of transactionality (stay in one region and do business in another). This study further advances the growing literature on the post-pandemic effect on women and the resilience strategies they have adopted to cope with the growing household need. Based on these, recommendations for further study are suggested. The author suggests that further study should be carried out to investigate the health and nutrition status of children at the Adagon refugee settlement. Further study should also be carried out to further investigate the flow and intensity of internal migration among the refugees in Nigeria.

6. PercePtions and attitudes toWards Women emPloyment and leadershiP as onboard maritime officers in india Matov Baker, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri

Highlights Spatial and temporal complexities in enforcing gender inclusion are ‘wicked paradoxes’ in scaling up women seafarers. A pragmatic gendered framework that seeks to incorporate and enforce practice through laying out robust practices of commitment and intrinsic sociological transformation is urgently needed in India. This could be done relating to the AWESOME framework and systems thinking approach. Inclusion of women in various sectors of maritime. Research about how to improve women’s decision-making capacity and engagement through the Awesome framework is looked into.

parallel session 2 (breakout room 1) Moderated by Dr. Joost Monks, Lecturer, University of Geneva

1. art and stories of exPressinG beinG and feelinG safe in disaster suPPort in JaPan: PoPoki’s friendshiP story and PoPoki’s mask Gallery.

Dr. Ronni Alexander, UNESCO Chair on Gender and Vulnerability in Disaster Support, Kobe University

Highlights Dr. Ronni is the only UNESCO Chair on Gender and Disaster and this paper presents a gender perspective in disaster risk reduction and recovery. Women tend to be more vulnerable than men in disaster, their familial responsibilities increase, and they’re adversely affected over longer time periods. Covid is no exception with worsened effects such as the increases in domestic violence and the prevalence of women in front-line positions. The focus is on what makes people feel safe and use that knowledge to help in emergencies. Popoki’s friendship story is a drawing project in the wake of the tsunami and nuclear disaster. She learned that drawing helps people express what they cannot say in words and allows space for reflection and helps to bring back the everyday in abnormal times. Drawing weaves stories and social media together, providing connection and conversation that can be done by anyone at any time. It provides something to share with future generations. Covid has removed private spaces for women and projects like these create a way to express, provide a space for laughter, and a way to take back the everyday while providing hope for the future.

2. leadershiP and aGency by Women enGineers in south africa. Dr. Hannelie Nel, University of Johannesburg

Highlights Though women represent 50% of the South African population they earn 20% less than men. Only 6–11% of the engineering workforce are women and 2% of academic staff in higher education are women. This research explored reasons using a qualitative action approach – interviews with women in the technical sectors to determine challenges faced. Results included an 11 chapter report. Women are experiencing resistance progressing to senior roles, and must also balance family roles, lack of childcare facilities, and gender discrimination in the workplace. Gender equality remains low on the priority list in South Africa, which is struggling with other issues such as violence and racial discrimination, and which is a patriarchal society. Gender empowerment holds more value for women in engineering than gender equity. In engineering, feminism can aggravate situations where acknowledgment for being a woman is demanded or expected and can be an over-justification. Professional networks, support relationships, and connections are vital for success, as are investments in personal health, routine, and keystone habits. Covid has accelerated automation and digitalization and sped labor market disruption, and disruptive skills are required more often but this trend tends to emphasize occupational gender segregation. The combined effects, also including the double shift (working at work and then working on home responsibilities) are likely to mean a scarring effect on future economic opportunities for women, and portend the possibility of inferior re-employment prospects and lowering income. Women’s collective agency is what can transform society and the means through which women demonstrate leadership and self-actualization. Gender positive recovery policies and practices are needed, especially in the areas of childcare availability, a proactive focus on overcoming occupational segregation by gender, and reskilling policies. Future work will follow up on a 2018 publication “The Development of Women and Young Professionals in STEM Careers”.

3. transforminG the role of Women in the consultinG enGineerinG industry in the Post-Pandemic era. Dr. Michelle Kruger, Chair FIDIC Diversity and Inclusion Council.

Highlights The paper focused on the decimating effect of the pandemic on women in engineering and the fact that there is limited research to quantify the effect. It is known that when women are well represented at the top echelons of organizations, profit, and share performance can be 50% higher. Women are more likely to embrace employee-friendly policies and champion racial and gender diversity. They are also more likely to sponsor and mentor women. Post pandemic new need for agility, adjustments to scope and skillsets, tolerance for failure, and understanding the value of humanity, diversity, and age. There are opportunities for working mothers, such as the C-Suite pipeline, and professional reg-