Accelerating digitization has brought new opportunities for women
Imagine what our world would be like if gender stereotypes never existed and if society always said to women and girls: yes, you can! By now, there would be at least three female presidents in every country in the world, the women’s soccer World Cup would be celebrated as much as the men’s, and there would be many more women in the tech industry.
For years, women believed there was no room for them in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) and decided to pursue other careers without even thinking about the world of endless opportunities that technology offers. However, with the arrival of the Covid-19 pandemic, we have all seen the importance of technology and the power it has to transform society.
The new opportunities that are opening up
The acceleration of digitization has brought new opportunities. But to understand them, we need to be able to measure and generate up-to-date data.
According to the Global Gender Gap 2022 report, published by the World Economic Forum, the percentage of women graduates in Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) is 1.7% against 8.2% of men graduates and, in Engineering and Manufacturing, the numbers are 24.6% for men and 6.6% for women.
This scenario shows that there is still a long way to go and that we need to start encouraging women to consider STEAM fields.
Therefore, we must invest in promoting diversity and inclusion in the tech industry because there is an opportunity to transform women’s employment. But how should we do it? How do we invite others to participate in our industry? What if we started working to elevate the stories of many women who have positively impacted the industry?
The recognition initiatives for women and non-binary people who pioneered the technology are one step. Highlighting and influencing women in leadership positions who have made their mark on the industry and who are supporting other women in their professional careers is one way to draw attention to this scenario.
Salary increase, salary reduction
Another measure is to bet on research that reveals, for example, how the pandemic has affected women, men and other genders working in STEAM, the new challenges they face and the opportunities that have arisen.
In a recent survey, we were able to detect that one of the main findings was linked to pay: only 19% of women already working in technology say they have received a pay cut. Of the remaining 81%, 41% said they had received a pay raise.
It was also possible to identify an increase in learning opportunities. But, in this case, there were gaps between those who carry out caring functions and those who work: 60% of this group saw their professional opportunities increase. Although 67% of people with no dependents saw this disparity, it is why business leaders need to embrace the different roles people play in their families when designing job training programs and incorporate flexibility to enable management of the time and other factors.
In this way we guarantee access, continuity and completion of training courses, fundamental in the technological ecosystem, where upskilling and reskilling become engines of growth for people and for the industry.
Company policies that make the difference
The survey results indicate that there have been shifts in perceptions of the tech ecosystem, and that the actions and policies companies have implemented to retain female talent during the pandemic have worked.
However, there is still a long way to go to achieve more equal participation and better conditions for women in the sector.
Empowering women and minorities for STEAM fields is a collective responsibility of decision makers in the tech industry. We need a diverse group of people to shape that future and lead the digital transformations underway.
We have come a long way to achieve an open space for women in technology, and we must continue on this path created to take concrete and sustainable actions that improve the problems we are facing.
Melina Masnatta is Global Director of Learning, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at Globant, a digital-native company focused on reinventing business through innovative technology solutions.🇧🇷
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Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
