EMPOWERMENT OF YOUNG WOMEN IN ICT

 Why empower young women in ICT

ICT which stand information communication technology plays a crucial significant role to the world. ICT has helped the world in different fields for example in the education sector it has promoted e-learning, also it has made it possible for students to use digital textbooks and also digital blackboards, it has also led to the improvement of knowledge to the student since they able to gather information on the internet hence improving their performance in school. On the other hand ICT has also brought great achievements and better patient care in the health sector where by the use of ICT tools such as electronic health records (EHRS), telemedicine and health information portals have made it possible to store, share and manage patient’s data more effectively.

 Moreover in ICT has also helped the business sector in many ways where by it makes a business more efficient and respond to customer’s needs, and also it makes it easier for the business personnel’s to advertise and interact with their customers through the use of social media platforms, online channels have increased global reach by breaking down geographical barriers allowing business to operate in global market place where by people can buy materials internationally.

Despite having the crucial significant role to the world there has been a gender gap in the field of ICT, where by the industry has been dominated by more men than women, meaning that there is underrepresentation of women. Globally, on average less than 30% of the workplace in ICT are women which means there are few women in the ICT industry. The wide gender gap is brought about due to many causes such as; lack of role models due to more men dominating the industry there has been lack of aspiration and visibility where by young women don’t see many successful women in the ict and hence they get discouraged thinking that they are not fit in the career, And they might not be aware of the opportunities that are in the ICT field. 

The lack of role models has also caused to lack of confidence and self-belief since there no one to inspire and encourage which lowers the desire for career and therefore they get discouraged from pursuing the ict careers. The lack of mentorship and guidance has also contributed to the lack of women in ICT this is because there are no women to act as mentors who can provide support and guidance, career advice and also sharing experience, who also help exploring the challenges that women face in ICT. 

The other cause why girls are not many in the ICT sector is due to unequal access to education and training where by some other parts of the world girls have limited access to quality education, can be due to some schools not offering the ICT related courses and also limited exposure to the courses and this can cause lack of experience and later on it leads to the discouragement of girls in the ICT career.

Therefore looking at the underrepresentation of women and the great gender gap in ICT, women also need to be considered in ict careers in all industry sectors. In order to achieve this, different approaches have been taken, such as increasing female representation in the stem sector who will be the role models to young women and may also act as mentors and help to encourage girls, provide support and guidance in so doing this may help to create a desire and make them go for the career, and also help in breaking the gender gap that ICT is dominated by only men. 

Another approach is increasing accessibility and affordability, this involves providing ICT technologies to young women so that they should be involved in practice to increase their experience ,and also providing some digital literacy training that may equip young women with skills. When this has been done it plays a significant role in empowering young women where by it helps in promoting economic empowerment as they open the doors for financial independence making them be dependent on their own and improve their live hood. It also increases the number of role models hence increasing the desire for young women to go the career there by bridging the gender gap and fostering equality.