Mapping gender gaps for African women in tech
Sustainable Development Goal 5, Target 5.6 (b) is very clear; enhance the use of enabling technology, in particular information and communication technology, to promote the empowerment of women. From there I get the power to articulate the possibility of reaching target 5.6(b) of Goal 5 by 2030, within 14 years. But I am thinking if this goal would be met with the current situation. Anyway, I’ll let you be the judge.
Technology is changing the world faster, although it is masculine and challenging, it is worth noticing. One thing that is indisputable is that ICT seems like a snail in the changing world of women, as women-related companies lag behind in ICT campaigns. As fewer girls and women continue to be lost in the ICT value chain and more men continue to enter the ICT world, the balance is clear. Of course to the extent that, how many girls are taught how to develop computer applications, how many are computer literate, how many are engaged in mobile phone and computer repair, what are we doing to attract girls to the digital career? It is superstitious to believe that ICT can promote promiscuity in women and it is just an empty excuse. Superstition is a big void and it’s still comedy, but it’s a strong influencer that has held African men in bondage for far too long, no matter the background. Undoubtedly, the communication of information technologies in the face of the Internet has changed lives and continues to change lives, it has changed how we do things, what we do, when and where things are done. It has made the world more modern than time. Closing the limits and opening the borders, turning the world into a small space for everyone. The only thing I see that the Internet has yet to do is close the gender gaps. The inclusion of gender in technology could be a reasonable thing if we want a better and safer world for all.
Gender inequality remains an obstacle to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and Goal 5 in particular. It is unfair to know that men still find it difficult to understand the background of SDG Goal 5 – I. and Gender Equality, and then adjust it to technology. Think, what does gender equality really mean for men? As they used to ask: “Do women want to be equal to men? Or what does the United Nations mean with gender equality? That question needs an answer and I know it can be said. But you see that it has been extremely difficult to explain this in the context of Africa”. to men. It has been extremely difficult to explain the meaning of “gender equality” to African men and is the root causes of resistance. If I may ask, why is it difficult for women advocates to actually put into practice what kind of equality do they mean when they advocate for equality? Does this equality mean being equal to men? What are the qualities of these qualities? What about benefits now and in the future, and even for children and families? I think if you answer any of this, mindsets and perceptions can be shaped. You know, a lot of men pretend to know what gender and equality is, while they don’t. They just step back into their circle and frame it as an affront. Do you know that there are so many misconceptions about gender? equality in local communities? Until the global vision of the world? Take a little survey and you will be amazed at your result.
Educated men, albeit hand in hand, are the worst at it, while uneducated men don’t even want to hear about it. Girls are seen as weak who do not need a voice. Religiously, a gender is the tail and man is the head. The perception of Africa further broadens the scope and relegates women to the domestic sphere. I am aware that women and girls are less tech savvy than men. I ask why? Why are men always trained for emerging opportunities and given priority to access them and in virgin times? Why are women left behind to learn about emerging opportunities later and given the last chance to access them? Then I realized why the world is not getting better. Imagine if the internet educates a woman, isn’t it educating the world as they say?
Preparing girls and women with tech skills can help, especially now that every job has a digital component. Whether it’s fruit vending, restaurant business, etc., internet/tech knowledge can help. But the real problem in Africa is that the majority of girls and women, especially those in poor rural areas, do not have access to the internet, those who can access the internet do so at a very high cost; Internet is slow and breaks on the connection. Internet coverage is even more urbanized; many more do not know how to use the Internet with business sense or skill. And I am disturbed. Perturbed about what to do?
The 2013 UNESCO report indicates that 65 million children worldwide do not have access to education. 29 million girls are illiterate in Africa, while 17 million girls are out of school in Africa. Is it irrational when few men feel threatened when women access education? I mean, for example, how traumatic it is when we postulate that educated women are unmarriageable and make them feel dissatisfied in the social setting. I know that marriage is not the end but the means of alienation from society. Yet all of these narratives sometimes make our women vulnerable and less interested in becoming who they are.
According to the World Economic Forum’s 2016 Gender Gap Report, that we would not have gender equality in the workplace for another 118 years, makes me agree with the report and see how to contribute to turning the wheel. As the empowerment of girls and women continues to be resisted by most men, it makes me feel that women-led advocacy hasn’t really helped things, but rather created gender enmity. And as I see, men’s resistance to gender equality manifests itself in the harassment, assault, bombing, kidnapping and murder of gender activists. It is an humble opinion that advocacy led by women needs to be reviewed. Gender advocacy activities must engage men in their teamwork and open dialogue with men at local and international levels. I will recommend that UN Women be led by men and let’s see if we don’t get new results.
From Kampala to Madagascar, girls and young women are doing their best to make an impact in the international space. In Dakar, for example, Awa Caba is building e-commerce sites; where local fruits are sold to citizens while improving their well-being. In Nigeria, Linda Ikeji from http://www.lindaikejisblog.com is using writing skills to write news on her blog and rank high earners every day, among others. Therefore, women who are the best entrepreneurs in the world should be trained on how to use the Internet to expand their social network, business, make new friends and contacts. And when this is done, the benefit will be stolen from us all.