International Women’s Day is celebrated worldwide on March 8 every year. It aims to create awareness of multifaceted challenges and discrimination facing women.
The theme for 2023 is Innovation and technology for gender equality.
Despite the efforts put in by the international community to achieve equality, more discrepancies are notable.
However, there is an equal opportunity for all, as indicated by Amb. Sarah Munyi, President, Youth in Africa, from Kenya.
“We should not wait for men to do it all but give it a try and take over,” she said during a virtual conference.
Despite being in a digital age, statistics indicate that only a few women are in the technology field.
The cause is attributed to the basic life women live, limiting them from accessing tech gadgets.
“Technology is upgrading very quickly and women should go about it to stay updated,” noted Ms. Munyi.
Training
Conversely, partnerships with several social media sites are in a move to offer training aimed at bridging the knowledge gap.
Nevertheless, women should come up with innovative products that can bring them on board.
The opportunity should help bridge the gap between men and women in tech.
Additionally, women should take courses that will make them stay afloat.
“We are not quarreling with men, but we need equal space,” said Eunice Godsent, matron, Youth in Africa, Ghana.
Technology helps in daily activities, doing business and connecting with more people.
“It will help us save cost and know what other people are doing,” retaliated Ms. Godsent.
Bias concept
We must do away with the notion that men should do science and mathematics.
Women, too, can do better in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) related careers.
However, there is a need to support each other in a bid to grow in tech careers. Innovation is there to stay and women must stay updated.
However, they must harness and tap the goodies accompanying technology.
“Minimized gender gap in digital access will help women improve their lives economically, socially and climb the ladder at different capacities including leadership,” added Ms. Godsent.
Leadership skills
Equally, leadership skills are the first step to having women on board.
“More than 55% of the global population is represented by women although they don’t have power to make a difference in society,” noted Tania Tome, Womenice President, Forbes Coaches Council, from Mozambique.
Technology is the way we can scale up development in different countries.
New entrepreneurial jobs will only be accessed if there is knowledge related to soft skills.
Take advantage of globalization and the internet to advance your business. Through technology, small businessmen can shout at other countries.
We have to put on a personal brand to distinguish individuals in society. It includes doing something to change society.
“We cannot victimize ourselves; African women have the resilience to change African narrative,” noted Ms. Tome.
On the hand, “…women are doubted people despite the discussion about gender equality,” notes Sisco Muniela, the General Secretary for Youth in Africa.
After Covid-19 everything now is running online and women find it difficult to get appointed to tech fields. Despite many challenges, in Namibia, women are relatively represented in different technology fields, such as photography, as noted by Sisco Amunyela.
Most women are now getting into tech work. More female students are enrolling in the STEM field.
“It’s not like past days when a lady student would not know how to tell it to her parents,” added Ms. Amunyela.
Great projects they innovate don’t end up in showrooms because they are doubted.
Society has to acknowledge that women can make diverse contributions to society through technology. The move will give them confidence and help them thrive.
Women can join the tech world regardless their occupation. “If you are working elsewhere and would like to join technology, you don’t have to abandon what you are doing,” retaliated Amb. Evelyn Zih, an entrepreneur from Equatorial Guinea.
Unity
Moreover, parents should teach their young girls to be innovative.
Nevertheless, some women try to step on their colleagues who want to climb the ladder.
They need more power to work on what they know better. It gives them the confidence to grow.
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Women and those in power should partner with their counterparts who have skills without capital to improve their lives.
“More networking and connecting with the right people to achieve their dream in technology and innovation,” noted Godsent.
