Now what?!

Are women getting equal opportunities in today’s world? The word Opportunity literally means “time or set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something”. So if we want to scrutinize the idea as to whether the women of today are getting equal opportunities, we need to look at whether the time or set of circumstances are favorable for than in comparison to men.

The time is definitely right to be a female. Historically female gender has always stood marginalized from society, but things are changing. More women empowerment groups and opinions now thrive within the community in most developed countries than ever. Firms are now formulating increasingly mature policies to address the issues of gender inequality, equal pay, and harassment. These policies would help more females to enter the workforce and perform on the same scale as the opposite gender.

If you look at the “Set of circumstances” i.e., whether or not women have equal opportunities, the scenario becomes complicated and this is where the problem lies.

The main problem: Normalization

Inequality ends where normalization begins. Women today are definitely starting to get equal opportunities thanks in part to change in mindsets and opinions, but we are certainly not considered equal to men.

Women might be more prominent in workplaces today as compared to previous times, and some might even be getting equal or even better pay than men, but we can’t conclude that every woman has equal opportunities in today’s world.

Equal opportunities for all women is something that would only happen the day we stop considering women “Something Else” as compared to men. Normalization of the scenario where males and females are treated on an equal basis is the only way all women can be guaranteed opportunities on equal footing.

But currently the scenario is far front perfect.

Significant progress has been made, but discrimination remains as exposed in the recent high-profile cases related to Uber and Goggle.

People still believe that women are not equal to man in variety of ways. When we are given a particular right like equal pay, it’s seen as a hassle people have to go out of their way for. Somehow… it’s not considered something that should have been there in the first place?

A scenario where a woman has equal opportunity in the workplace or society should be a mainstream concept and not a utopian aspiration we hope to meet someday.

Notable women like Sheryl Sandberg, Oprah Winfrey, Janet Yellen and other countless more, have risen to powerful and respectable positions within their lives and careers. This shows that not only should women get equal opportunities in our society because it’s the right thing to do, but also because we can and do serve in equal pomp as men (obviously).

How is technology helping to advance gender equality?

Technology can also help to advance gender equality besides the marvelous accuracy and efficiency it has in performing a task. When speaking of the ubiquitousness of the internet, it’s important to remember that access still remains a problem in rural areas and even urban low-income areas. But for the most part, internet access, automation, and other digital tools have helped to remove sane of the barriers keeping women from pursuing educational opportunities, participating in the workplace, and having their voices heard.

I .Technology in education

Given the importance of technology, it’s not a surprise that job in the tech field are high in demand and pay well above the national average. Software engineering roles are still some of the hottest technology jobs in the country-if not the world. But as we know, most of these professionals and students are men.

Understanding that women are not only less likely to choose this field, but also less likely to be hired and more likely to have student loans , a lot of institutions wanted to be sure that it’s graduates didn’t end up jobless in debt for thier education. Schools also advance gender equality by providing convenient childcare for student-mothers, who often struggle to find and afford them while they attend college. And online programs are a godsend.

2. Technology in the workforce.

Not only are yawn more likely to be the primary caregiver for their children, they’re also more likely to assume this role with parents and grandparents. In addition, they’re more likely to be responsible for transporting the kids to school, and making arrangements- or taking off work when children are sick, have appointments, etc. These factors can sometimes hinder women from being able to compete in the workplace. However developed countries have been on the forefront of creating a new workforce that understands and accommodates these challenges. Skills based approach naturally eradicates gender bias by focusing on skills and requirements. Remote work has opened up a world of possibilities. This not only allows women who often play multiple roles simultaneously, to have more flexibility in location, but also encourages men to start to mirror the dual tasked nature of the traditional woman.

3. Technology in advocacy

True change begins when people’s voices are heard ,and some of the largest women’s movements today, including #MeToo and the Women’s March, have been launched and executed using digital advocacy platforms. For example, the Women’s Rights Empowerment network recently used text messages and social media to successfully move ahead legislation that supports family planning in South Carolina, enabling low-income women and families to get the support they need to decide if, when and how to create families. Corporations are also using digital advocacy technology to empower their employees and stakeholders to speak out. For example cosmetic companies like Lush and Beauty Counter use Phonne2Action’s digital grassroots technology to mobilize millions of people to advocate for women’s issues.

The world is not perfect. But it can be made better. Let us all work together for a better and equal tomorrow.