Dr. Parshotam S. Manhas
Gender equality is a fundamental human right that is essential for the advancement of all mankind but the inequalities that are still prevalent in society today hold women and girls back. Digital literacy offers immense opportunities for the development and growth of society to promote gender equality by encouraging equal participation in social, economic, cultural, and political activities. The responsibility of society as a whole is to create an atmosphere where women and girls have equal access to technology and innovation to achieve gender equality. Women have traditionally been underrepresented in the technology industry, with most tech-based jobs being male-dominated. This lack of diversity creates an imbalance in the sector, leading to biased technology approaches, which in turn reinforce existing gender inequalities.
One-way society can promote gender equality in technology is by providing girls with equal opportunities to develop digital skills at a young age which can be achieved through initiatives such as coding camps, hackathons, and other tech-based programs. By empowering girls with digital skills, they become better equipped to pursue tech-based careers, creating a more diverse and balanced industry. Additionally, society must address the gender digital divide, which refers to the gap between men and women in accessing and using technology. This divide creates barriers for women to access online education, job opportunities, and other resources that technology can provide. Governments and organizations can work towards bridging this gap by providing women with affordable access to technology and digital literacy training. Furthermore, tech companies can also work towards creating a safe and inclusive environment for women by implementing policies that prohibit harassment and discrimination in the workplace.
Digital technologies can contribute significantly to the fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for gender equality by the application of enabling technology, in particular information and communications technology, to encourage the empowerment of women. In this regard, the UN has also been organizing high-level events to bring together technologists, innovators, entrepreneurs, and gender equality activists to provide a chance to emphasize the role of all stakeholders in enhancing access to digital tools. When women are involved in technology, more innovative ideas and inventions that support gender equality and cater to the needs of women are created. Contrarily, their exclusion has significant financial consequences.
Through examining the current state of gender inequality and exploring potential solutions, we can work towards creating a more inclusive and equitable digital space for all genders, especially the women and girls who represent half of the population of the world.
Only 63% of women used the Internet in 2022 compared to 69% of men (ITU, November 2022).
75% of jobs by 2050 will be related to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Yet today, women hold just 22% of positions in artificial intelligence, to name just one (WEF Report)
A study of 51 countries revealed that 38% of women had personally experienced online violence (UN Women’s Gender Snapshot 2022 Report)
65% of women under the age of 29 consider the Internet to be unsafe for them.
The lack of women’s inclusion in technology comes with massive costs too. Their exclusion from the digital world has shaved US$1 trillion from the gross domestic product of low- and middle-income countries in the last decade – a loss that will grow to US$1.5 trillion by 2025 without action (Gender Snapshot 2022).
Innovation and technology have played a significant role in empowering women in various ways:
Increased access to education: Technology has made it possible for women to access education and learning resources regardless of their location enabling them to acquire skills and knowledge that can improve their lives.
Improved healthcare: Technology has also led to the development of better healthcare services such as telemedicine and wearable health devices enabling them to access healthcare services and monitor their health from the comfort of their homes.
Greater Access to opportunities: Women’s inclusion in technology can help to increase access to job opportunities in the sector. This can lead to greater economic mobility and career advancement for women, which can help to promote gender equality.
E-commerce platforms and online marketplaces have made it easier for women to start and grow their own businesses, while online job platforms have created new opportunities for women to work remotely.
Increased safety: Technology has also led to the development of safety tools and apps such as GPS tracking, and emergency response systems which can be especially useful for women living in areas with high rates of violence and crime.
Social networking: Social networking platforms have enabled women to interact with each other and share their experiences, knowledge, and resources. This has helped to create communities of support and collaboration, which can be especially beneficial for women who may face social isolation or discrimination.
Bridging the gender gap in STEM fields by providing education and training opportunities to women and enabling more women to take on leadership roles in technology.
Breaking down gender stereotypes in technology can create more inclusive workplaces and a more gender-balanced society.
Promoting Diversity and Inclusion: Including more women in technology can help to promote diversity and inclusion more broadly. This can lead to more excellent representation of marginalized groups in the workforce and help to create more equitable workplaces.
Overall, innovation and technology have opened new opportunities for women and helped to empower them in various ways. However, it is important to ensure that these opportunities are accessible to all women, regardless of their socio-economic background or location, to ensure that the benefits of technology are truly inclusive and percolate to the lowest strata of society.
(The author is Associate Professor at GDC Samba)
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