International Girls in ICT Day

Only 3% of women viewing a career in technology as first choice

Author Nelly Polyzou

Published on: 22/04/2021

As we celebrate today the International Girls in ICT Day – established 10 years ago by the UN’s International Telecommunications Union (ITU) to encourage more girls and young women to take up education in STEM fields and work in STEM careers – it is important to understand the role that Information Technologies play across the world and how women are still being underrepresented in this field.

Access to and use of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) has become essential to governments and businesses, as well as to individuals’ day-to-day lives. However, the access to technology is not universal, both geographically and across genders. And despite promising signs of women being integrated into the realm of information technologies, data continues to show that they are restricted to the most basic job levels regarding skills and pay.

An alarming fact is that even in developed countries, the gender digital divide is present, with only 3% of females viewing a career in technology as their first-choice profession, according to PwC’s “Women in Tech: Time to close the gender gap” report. 

Only 27% of female students surveyed say they would consider a career in technology, compared to 61% of males. In addition to this, no more than 16% of females nationally are being recommended to consider a career in technology as opposed to 33% of males. 

Worldwide women are 26% less likely to own a smartphone and therefore, in general less able to access mobile internet. This figure shockingly rises to rates of up to 70% in certain parts of South Asia.

Some other key findings of the report:

• Females aren’t considering technology careers as they aren’t given enough information on what working in the sector involves and also because no one is putting it forward as an option to them.
• A lack of female role models is also reinforcing the perception that a technology career isn’t for them. Only 22% of students can name a famous female working in technology. Whereas two thirds can name a famous man working in technology.
• Over a quarter of female students say they’ve been put off a career in technology as it’s too male dominated.
• Technology organisations need to highlight how technology is a force for good if they want to attract more females to the sector. Half of females say that feeling like the work they do makes the world a better place is the most important factor when deciding their future career.

GENDER EQUALITY IN ICT GETTING WORSE

Statistics show that gender equality in European ICT jobs is worse today than it was ten years ago with only 2 out of 10 ICT jobs in the European Union held by women.

Despite the overall growth of the ICT sector in recent decades, the share of women in ICT jobs in the EU has decreased by 4% since 2010, standing at 18% in 2019, according to the latest Gender Equality Index from the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE). 

The high level of gender segregation in ICT jobs surpasses the gender imbalance in many other STEM (science, technology, engineering) jobs.

GUTERRES: 17% GENDER GAP IN INTERNET USE GLOBALLY

“Information and communication technologies have been invaluable during the COVID-19 pandemic. They help us to stay connected, and to keep vital services and businesses going. Yet almost half the world is still offline – and most of those who lack access to digital technology are women and girls in developing countries,” said António Guterres, Secretary General of the United Nations, on the occasion of the International Girls in ICT Day.

Latest figures from the International Telecommunication Union show a 17% gender gap in internet use globally, according to Guterres, who notes that this gap is even wider in least developed countries. In some regions, this gender gap is growing, reinforcing gender inequalities by denying women and girls opportunities to access education, find better-paid jobs, and start new businesses.

“Making these technologies available to all is an essential part of building back stronger communities and economies, and addressing many of the world’s most pressing challenges. International Girls in ICT Day aims to inspire a global movement to increase the representation of girls and women in technology. Today, let’s recommit to the goal of equal access for young women and girls to opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math,” said Secretary General of the UN in his message.

WEF: WOMEN NEED THE TECH REVOLUTION

In its Global Gender Gap Report 2020, the World Economic Forum indicated that it would still take more than a lifetime to make gender equality a reality. “None of us will see gender parity in our lifetimes, and nor likely will many of our children. That’s the sobering finding of the Global Gender Gap Report 2020, which reveals that gender parity will not be attained for 99.5 years,” said the report.

According to WEF, the answer is a new tech revolution. “With a new tech revolution comes new jobs, and women are falling behind in securing these positions. Companies can address this imbalance through the creation of inclusive workplaces; providing opportunities where women can learn skills that will secure them these roles; and take a diverse approach to the hiring process.”