Creating Women's Future Now

Creating Women’s Future Today

“On International Women’s Day, I encourage you to pause and consider the progress women have made and the objectives we continue to strive for to achieve gender equity. From my own vantage point as Director of Corporate Partnerships at the Boston College Center for Work & Family (BCCWF), I’m especially interested in how women are faring in the workforce and whether they are able to thrive in both their careers and their personal lives.” Jennifer Sabatini Fraone, March 2017 (Huffington Post)

The year is 2017, yet here we are talking about gender disparity happening around us. Whether in household or workplace, women are still not given an equal opportunity to thrive and succeed. According to UN Gender Statistics Report 2015, although the education gap has been narrowed down, in other areas, however, not much progress can be seen. The world labour force comprises only 50 per cent of women compared to 77 per cent of men. In Malaysia, out of 14.7 million workforces, almost 8 million of them are women. Overall, women are still far from having an equal voice to men in public and private spheres, and still subjected to various forms of gender disparity.

Just as many studies and reports suggest that a more gender-inclusive political system may lead to better policies for women and girls, and integrating women into corporate boards may mean reaching new consumers, not to mention higher profits. In a rising world of technology and innovation, clearly, there is a need for female representatives in the workforce.

A report by World Economic Forum stated that it is easier to recruit women in traditional Personal Care and Service, and Office Administration jobs, compared to ‘hard-hat’ industries such as construction, manufacturing, utilities and engineering, computer and communication technology, to name a few. Male-dominated industries and occupations are particularly vulnerable to masculine stereotypes that make it even more difficult for women to excel. The new upcoming technology-based industries are not yet in favor of female employment.

Women Are Losing Jobs To Technology And MEN

At the turn of a new century, traditional work environment (8-hour office job, rigid leader - subordinate structure, narrow job scope) has become a thing of a past as we entered the fourth industrial revolution. The Millennial Generation, digital workforce/human cloud, workplace structures and monitoring, and not to mention technology advancement are major contributors to these changes in conservative work environment, further pushing women into the employment cavity.

A research study by Oxford University found that 47 per cent of all employment (80 million jobs in the US and 15 million in UK) is threatened technological unemployment, where the loss of jobs caused by technological change. Technology exacerbated declines in employment and incomes by eliminating certain tasks and deskilling many jobs. Artificial Intelligence, robotics and complex computerised equipment successfully replaced often skilled labour; communication technology has allowed human digital workforce/human clouds to thrive, including those in engineering, architectural, accounting or legal services and even medical procedures.

What does this mean to female workforce in technology-based industries? After all, they have already been marginalized in the traditional work environment. In her call to action, Jennifer Sabatini Fraone encouraged more women’s participation in the tech sector as part of an effort to reduce the widening and growing gender gap in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Back in the 1980s, 37 per cent of all computer science graduates in the U.S. were women. Today, that number is a mere 18 per cent and by 2020, only 3 per cent women will be in computing relating job. Women must gain back their competitive advantage in the technology and innovation sectors, to close this widening gender gap.

Beside the lack of access to technology, too few women are leaders, innovators, and decision makers in an increasingly technological and connected world. Women’s ability to lead is scrutinized by male colleagues, and leaders. In August 2017, Google fired a male computer engineer for perpetuating gender stereotypes. James Damore circulated a memo claiming that women have lower tolerance of stress and that men posses higher drive for status, a quality fit for leadership. And Google, as a tech giant, clearly does not tolerate this patriarchal, gender-biased work environment and instead go with the inclusion effort to reduce the gender gap in its organization.

Bridging the Gap For Gender Equality In Today’s Future

World Economic Forum reported back in 2015 that it would take about 118 years to close the gender gap in terms of labor market opportunity, health, education, and political clout. Other studies have indicated that by incorporating more women into technology sectors, or any sectors for that matter, is likely to increase productivity and offer women a source of high-quality jobs. In addition, with the involvement of women in technology sectors, the needs of female consumers can be addressed and taken into account. So, how can technology build a more equal world for women and girls? Here are 5 suggestions:

1. Get women and girls involved in the global technology revolution

Technology is a women’s human rights issue. Increasing women’s participation in technology revolution may ensure an improved and equal future for them. By closing the technology gap, women and girls will have better access to information and able to participate in education, politics, healthcare and working community life.

2. Change the story – celebrate women in leadership.

Women are already leading the way when it comes to scientific and technological progress. It is important to recognize their contributions as they pave the path towards breaking gender stereotype. One important role model who shattered the technology glass ceiling was Grace Hopper, who made significant technology discoveries back in 1960s. She initiated