Lessons and Future Directions for a Gender Equity Pledge Campaign.

Area of Science:

• Health Professions Education
• Social Sciences
• Organizational Behavior

Background:

• The IWill campaign at a health sciences university aimed to promote gender equity through public pledges and dialogue.
• Over 1400 staff, faculty, and students participated, selecting or creating pledges for gender equity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact and participant experiences of the IWill gender equity pledge campaign.
• To identify facilitators and barriers to fulfilling pledges and promoting equity within a health sciences institution.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods survey was administered to 1405 participants of the IWill campaign.
• Data analysis included response rates, endorsement of pledge fulfillment, perceived power to create change, and identification of barriers and supports.

Main Results:

• 56% of participants responded to the survey.
• Over 70% felt they could fulfill their pledge and had the power to promote equity.
• Men and learners reported higher rates of perceived power for change than women; common barriers included time and culture, while support and reminders were key facilitators.

Conclusions:

• The IWill campaign successfully promoted reflection and engagement in equity work among faculty, staff, and learners.
• Streamlining administrative support, building community, and addressing systemic barriers are crucial for advancing gender equity.
• Further efforts are needed to engage leadership and support individual, departmental, and institutional equity initiatives.