Representation justice as a research agenda for socio-hydrology and water governance

Figures & data

Figure 1. Responses to the question of whether respondents who identified as women or men felt discriminated against in their workplace at least once, based on the categories displayed

Figure 2. Lack of representation: current conditions in the water sector, where lack of representation can lead to homogeneous organizational structure, non-representative decision-making, discrimination, and employee turnover

Figure 3. Representation justice: hypothesized outcomes for socio-hydrology research and water governance through a representation justice lens

Box 1. Research questions for socio-hydrology through a representation justice lens

What datasets do we still need to better understand gender and intersectionality dynamics in the water sector? How do gender and intersectionality dynamics alter human-hydrological feedback loops? What quantitative tools can be designed to account for intersectionality effects in socio-hydrology? When are qualitative and mixed methods needed? How can communities be empowered to collect, analyze, own, and benefit from their data and the results of these studies? How are women and people of color represented in water management and decision-making? How do they enter and experience their career paths in the water sector? What procedures do we put in place to ensure equal and appropriate representation in water management and decision-making? How do racial and/or gender disparities matter in a water management context? Do these disparities impact decisions or management practices? If so, in what ways? How can gender- or race-related disparities in water management be remedied, either through workplace dynamics or other means? What is the role of intersectionality with regard to gender representation in water management? How do women and people of color describe their experiences working in water management? What institutional, historical, or systemic social structures limit access of women and/or people of color to water management jobs and decision-making power? How exactly does gender matter in water management and governance, and what are the implications for socio-hydrology models, predictions, and inquiries? How do gender, race, and place intersect in water resource management?