The Cost of Inequality: Why Bridging the Digital Gender Divide is Everyone’s Responsibility
Addressing the root causes of the digital gender divide
The digital gender divide is an issue that has far-reaching consequences for women around the world. As a UX Researcher who has worked in the digital industry for many years and on several women’s rights projects, I have seen firsthand the impact of this divide on women’s social, economic, and technological opportunities.
The digital gender divide is a global issue that affects women in multiple ways. It is the unequal access to digital technologies and opportunities between men and women which manifests itself in several ways. Women are less likely to own a smartphone, have access to the internet, and have digital skills than men. According to a report by the World Economic Forum, globally, women are 26% less likely to own a smartphone than men. This gap is even more significant in developing countries, where women are 34% less likely to own a smartphone than men.
According to estimates by the United Nations International Telecommunication Union (ITU), around 62% of men but only 57% of women worldwide used the Internet in 2020.
The digital gender divide has far-reaching consequences for women in terms of social, economic, and technological opportunities. For instance, the digital gender gap exacerbates existing gender inequalities and has economic implications. According to McKinsey, bridging gender inequality could potentially add $13 trillion to the global GDP by 2030. Moreover, the digital gender divide limits women’s access to education and training opportunities, which ultimately limits their opportunities for economic and social mobility.
The tech industry is not immune to the digital gender divide. Women are underrepresented in the tech industry, and the gender gap is evident at all levels. According to a report by Girls Who Code, women make up only 24% of the computing workforce in the United States. This gap is even more significant for women of colour, who are severely underrepresented in the tech industry.
As I'm writting this article, I'm listening this fantastic podcast episode of “Hypewomen”, where Sarona Wolter talks about the Digital Divide with Celina Lee, the CEO and Founder of Zindi, the leading professional network of data scientists in Africa!
The underrepresentation of women in the tech industry is not just a moral issue, but it also has practical implications. For instance, research has shown that diverse teams are more innovative and perform better than homogeneous teams. Therefore, the tech industry is missing out on the valuable contributions and perspectives that women can bring to the table.
Women are less likely than men to have access to financial services through digital channels. In some countries, such as India and Bangladesh, this gap is as high as 50%. (Source: World Bank)
Moreover, the digital gender divide is evident in the types of jobs women hold in the tech industry. Women are less likely to hold technical roles, and they are more likely to work in administrative or support roles. This trend limits women’s opportunities for career growth and advancement.
Bridging the digital gender divide is crucial for our social, economic, and technological development. While Silicon Valley is often the focus of our attention, the digital divide is a global issue, and bridging this gap will benefit us all. In the space race era during the Cold War, the Soviet Union was ahead of the United States in space exploration. After investigations, the US government found that the inclusion of women engineers and scientists in the Soviet Union was a significant contributing factor to their success. This example underscores the importance of diversity in the tech industry and the need to bridge the digital gender divide.
To bridge the digital gender divide, we need to address the root causes of the problem, including social norms and cultural biases that prevent women from accessing digital technologies and opportunities. We must also ensure that women have access to education and training opportunities in digital skills. Finally, the tech industry needs to promote diversity and inclusion by creating equal opportunities for women and men and addressing the gender gap in hiring, promotion, and retention.
Here are five ways how can we, as individuals, fight against the digital gender divide:
- Support organisations that work to bridge the digital gender gap: There are many organizations that work towards bridging the digital gender divide. Supporting such organisations by volunteering, donating, or spreading the word can make a significant impact. I'm listing a couple of examples below this article.
- Educate oneself and others: Individuals can educate themselves and others about the digital gender divide and its consequences. This could include attending webinars or conferences, reading articles and books, or sharing information on social media.
- Mentor and empower women in tech: Now, I’m not talking about “mansplaining”, but women in tech often lack access to mentorship and support. Individuals can help bridge the gap by mentoring and empowering women in tech, providing them with guidance, support, and networking opportunities.
- Advocate for policy changes: Policy changes at the local, national, and international levels can play a significant role in bridging the digital gender divide. Individuals can advocate for policy changes that promote equal access to digital technologies and opportunities for women.
- Promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace: Finally, individuals can promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace. This could include advocating for the recruitment and retention of women in tech, ensuring equal pay and benefits, and fostering an inclusive work culture.
By taking these steps, even if little, we as individuals can play a crucial role in bridging the digital gender divide and promoting gender equality in the tech industry and beyond.
The digital gender divide is a significant global issue that affects women in multiple ways. It has far-reaching consequences for women in terms of social, economic, and technological opportunities. Bridging this gap is crucial for our social, economic, and technological development. The tech industry has a responsibility to promote diversity and inclusion by creating equal opportunities for women and men and addressing the gender gap in hiring, promotion, and retention. Together, we can bridge the digital gender divide and ensure that women have equal access to digital technologies and opportunities.
There are several impactful organisations that are fighting the digital gender divide. Here are some examples:
- Girls Who Code — Girls Who Code is an organisation that aims to close the gender gap in technology by teaching girls to code. The organisation offers summer camps and after-school programs to girls in grades three through 12. Girls Who Code has reached more than 500 million people and has helped over 300,000 girls across the United States.
- Digital Opportunity Trust — The Digital Opportunity Trust is an organisation that works to bridge the digital divide and empower young people with digital skills. The organisation provides training and resources to youth in developing countries and marginalised communities. Through its programs, the Digital Opportunity Trust has impacted over 2.5 million young people in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.
- Women’s Media Center — The Women’s Media Center is an organisation that works to increase women’s representation in media and technology. The organisation offers training and resources to women in the media and tech industries and advocates for policies that promote gender equality. The Women’s Media Center has been recognised for its work by the United Nations and the White House.
- Code.org — Code.org is a non-profit organisation that aims to expand access to computer science education to all students, with a particular focus on underrepresented groups. The organisation offers free online coding courses and resources to students and teachers around the world. Code.org has reached over 100 million students in 180 countries.
These are just a few examples of impactful organisations that are fighting the digital gender divide. By supporting these organisations and others like them, individuals can help to bridge the digital gender divide and create a more equitable and inclusive digital world. I definitely suggest looking around for organisations and initiatives in your professional and local communities.
Together, we can bridge the digital gender divide and ensure that women have equal access to digital technologies and opportunities. Let’s take action and make a difference! Contact me to discuss more how we can work together to bridge the digital gender divide.
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