Τίτλος:
Engendering Technology in the Digital Age: Women’s Agency, Entrepreneurship and Multitasking Whirlpool
Γλώσσες Τεκμηρίου:
Αγγλικά
Περίληψη:
In commemoration of Women's Entrepreneurship Day (WED)—November 19 officially recognized by 144 nations at the United Nations inaugural event in New York in 2014—this paper explores women’s entrepreneurial initiatives, focusing on the digital divide in the market economy. As regards entrepreneurship and employment, the World Bank estimates that closing the gender gap could increase the global GDP by more than 20%. However, despite decades of equal opportunity policies, legislation and government initiatives, women are still underrepresented in entrepreneurship, STEM, ICT and related sectors. An extensive analysis of current research confirms this gender imbalance, along with the gender gaps in skills which will be crucial for the future of work, like AI, Cybersecurity and Big Data. This paper argues that gender devaluation, to wit the subtle processes by which women’s contributions are minimized, undervalued or devalued, reproduce social stereotypes and consequently gender gaps and skills shortages. The current Global Gender Gap Report and Index (WEF, 2024) shows that women remain underrepresented in STEM (28.2%) and that the "Care Burden Impact"—the surge in caregiving responsibilities limiting women’s employability—highlights the need for a more inclusive and just care economy: equitable care systems and policies. The deep-rooted gender order reflected in the 2024 Global Gender Gap Report and Index emphasizes that, if we continue at this pace, the overall global gender gap could be closed in 134 years! Empowering women through technology and increasing the talent pool— inspiring girls and women into technology—requires engendering technology, namely eliminating gender stereotypes and raising the profile of female role models and mentors. Engendering technology entails women’s agency and economic empowerment. Undeniably eliminating gender disparities/inequalities is vital, and we should not have to wait 134 years to reach full parity.
Συγγραφείς:
Irene Kamberidou
Εκδότης:
University of Ioannina (Department of Philosophy), the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Department of Sociology), and Ionian University (Department of History)
Τίτλος συνεδρίου:
Politics of Technologies in the Digital Age
Λέξεις-κλειδιά:
gender gaps, digital skills gap, multitasking whirlpool, gender fatigue, tokenism, digital entrepreneurs
Κύρια θεματική κατηγορία:
Κοινωνικές, Πολιτικές και Οικονομικές επιστήμες
Αναφορές:
FORTHCOMING (CITE AS): Kamberidou, Irene (2024). Engendering Technology in the Digital Age: Women’s Agency, Entrepreneurship and Multitasking Whirlpool. Presentation at the international conference Politics of Technologies in the Digital Age, Nov. 21-23, 2024. Organizers: University of Ioannina (Department of Philosophy), the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (Department of Sociology), and Ionian University (Department of History).
