Every year on 8 March, we celebrate International Women’s Day (IWD), a day dedicated to raising awareness about gender inequality and celebrating the achievements of women. This year’s theme is DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality, and the campaign theme is #EmbraceEquity. These themes are powerful and raise important questions: What is gender equity, and how does it differ from gender equality?
As UNESCO aptly explains, gender equity means being fair to men and women, taking into account “the historical and social disadvantages that prevent women and men from operating on a level playing field”. Gender equality, as the name implies, refers to equality between men and women. Equity is a tool with which to achieve gender equality. By taking into account the barriers faced by women and men, and implementing initiatives that are tailored to addressing these specific barriers, we can ensure that everyone, regardless of their gender, has equal chances and access to resources and opportunities. This poisition is encapsulated in the following statement from UNESCO: “Equity is a mean. Equality is the result.”
The concepts of gender equity and gender equality are useful in helping us identify gender gaps. Undoubtedly, a gender gap exists in the digital space. As of 2022, females were represented by only 24% in the tech space, with males also reporting higher pay than females. In Nigeria specifically, young men are almost twice as likely to have a career in tech as women. Against this context, this year’s IWD theme highlights the importance of increasing women’s participation in the digital space. This will not only make women more likely to succeed in the male-dominated tech space but also drive innovative and tech-driven solutions to reduce gender inequality on a larger scale.
On this IWD, let us #EmbraceEquity and work towards gender equity in technology. You can get involved by supporting initiatives that encourage more women to get into the tech space, such as STEM scholarships, and by celebrating successful women-led tech organisations, such as TechHer, Herconomy, and Women in Tech in Nigeria. Together, we can make a difference and create a more equal world, harnessing and leveraging the power of technology to further bridge the gender gap.
Happy International Women’s Day!
