Efficiency is achieved in economies of countries when citizens are all considered as productive units. However, it has taken years for women to even try and get a job in the male dominated employment world. See more on how women impact the tech world.
Despite the females being half of the percentage using technology, the entrepreneur and technological area lacks in their presentation. This is an unsustainable scenario with minimization in the technological progress.
Not more than 8% of women in UK have leadership or partnership in the tech industries which clearly shows why the industry is solely male centric. Below are a few ways to implement that can be used to change the course of this slow pace of societal boom in economy.
Root-Learning
The best solution to spark interest in the field is from the base which is schools and universities encouraging more women into taking up the computer courses. A lot of women have stated that as there are few opportunities in technology, they have been put off from the same as career. The Imperial College London has started an initiative of teaching entrepreneurship programme. Taking such steps will benefit in the long run. A way of pulling the interests of school girls is by introducing things like STEM clubs which conduct activities purely technology based. Inviting STEM Ambassador to give speeches and information is another great way of empowering.
Attitude Change
Other than parents and institutes encouraging, the men in the working place should also extend their aid. Through listening to issues, engaging in debates and encouragement women will be able to feel more comfortable. Women’s voices should not be subdued but opinions must be equally respected.
The perspective that only men are better at studying science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) should be stemmed. Mothers should also be sought out for they make efficient employees by being good organizers, highly punctual and experienced in handling tough situations.
There could be a campaign to have a National Women in Engineering Day as proposed by Dave Gibbs who is a specialist at the National STEM Learning Centre and Network.
Accessible Funding And Schemes
There should be various schemes such as scholarships in college that attract the interest of women. Various workshops should be conducted so that they become more aware of the kind of opportunities that can be there when picking streams to further study in. These can also help mentor women to be efficient, understand tech world better and so on. The ways of getting funds should be propagated and promoted so that more female entrepreneurs get into start-ups. Global Fund for Women is an example of an organization that solely works towards spreading women’s rights and movements on a global scale.
Sensitive Workplace
Organizations should consider maternity leaves, flexible hours, menstruation off and mentoring to enable more active participation. The workplace harassment and sexism should be worked against such that the office space becomes positive. This should be insisted on not only the colleagues but the clients as well. WL Digital Marketing Company is an example that has started taking more women as workers and spreading awareness that “women rock”, as quoted by the founder Brie Moreau.
Safe Internet
A glaring figure of 95% is the amount of harassment, cyber bullying, abusive language and the use of derogatory images is what the UN estimates is targeted towards only women. Among various projects there should be some focused on eradicating this number. Si Jeunesse Savait of the Democractic Republic of Congo has gained influence by training survivors to dabble with online security, pen blogs and even access beneficial online services.
Tech Helpline
Just like hotlines there should be certain names that should be spread among women so that they become more aware of the sources which will be able to help them. The National STEM Learning Centre and Network, TechUKWomen, GirlGeeks, Cambridge AWISE are such institutions that try engage women to the technology sector.
There exist very few role models to have ambitions be based on and therefore it is necessary to use all these factors to promote more female participation in the tech field.
The companies should realize that diversity would imply additional revenue as more brain power will be used along with increase in creative ideas pitched. Let’s make this ‘women problem’ into a ‘business and economic problem’ so that more and more people will add their idea into betterment of the situation.
