Creating Women's Future Now

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the development of COBOL – first programming language, and created the term ‘Bug’ for commercial computer. In present day, more women are taking the lead in STEM such as Cori Bargmann – renowned neuroscientist; Sara Seager – planetary scientist and astrophysicist who discovered more than 700 new planets; Ginni Rometty – President, Chairman, and CEO of IBM. These powerful women are prime examples where unlimited talents, opportunities, and great discoveries are just within every woman, girl’s grasp.

3. Get girls started early

If access to technology is granted to girls and young women, they may use their skills and imaginations to create technology solutions to issues that matter most to them. They can create programs and applications that may prevent them from getting hurt and spread awareness about their basic human rights. Impactful ideas and inventions such as wearable sensors to prevent kidnapping, to a video game that teaches users about sexual consent can change the way the world treats this marginalized group.

4. Get everyone involved.

In order to build more gender equitable world, it is critical to have involvement from every government, leader, organization, as well as, industry mover and shaker. Organizations such as United Nations can play a huge supporting role in creation of gender-inclusive policies, promoting female empowerment, and leadership roles in all areas (politic, economic, social, technology). It is also important to note that any government must keep an open mind when implementing changes and instilling universal values among its people. When everybody is striving towards the same goals, all possibilities are within grasp.

5. Find and support Changemakers.

Employers and leaders have important roles to change the organizational behavior and hiring process. Extra efforts must be made to ensure inclusion of everybody, and that hiring and promotion should be based on an individual’s capacity/ability; not gender. There must be awareness from both men and women to recognize the importance of female participation that all are better off economically and personally. In Germany for instance, researchers found that increasing the share of women working full-time could increase Germany’s workforce by up to 2 million people by 2025.

What Does the Future Hold for Women?

The logic is simple. If we tap into the enormous potential of women in workplace, economy will thrive. If we allow women to be the change agent, gender disparity can be eradicated. It is calculated that women could increase their income globally by up to 76 per cent if the employment participation gap and the wage gap between women and men were closed. With the combined strength of men and women, business and country can achieve so much more.

The future is being automated as robots and computers are taking over the jobs. Inclusion efforts are more pertinent than ever to ensure no one is left behind. There are hopeful signs that more women are taking the lead in technology world. However, keeping this momentum going is not an easy task for all parties. Most importantly, women around the globe must remain optimistic that changes are coming, going in their direction. Be ready to be inspired and lead the future!

References:

1. http://ignite.globalfundforwomen.org/gallery/five-ways-technology-can-build-gender-equality

2. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-future-of-women-in-technology-a-call-to-action_us_58bf144ce4b05386ddc0cac8

3. http://reports.weforum.org/future-of-jobs-2016/

4. http://www.whenwomenthrive.net

5. https://unstats.un.org/unsd/gender/chapter4/chapter4.html

Infographic pages

1. http://reports.weforum.org/future-of-jobs-2016/shareable-infographics/

2. http://www.womenwhotech.com/womenintechinfographic