2023 International Women's Day: Going Digital For Gender Equity

2023 International Women's Day marks a significant milestone for the push for gender equity in our society. On this special day, we must take the opportunity to explore how we can further advance gender equity, primarily through the use of digital technology. Going "digital for gender equity," defined as this year's theme by the United Nations, means using the power of technology to create fairer, more inclusive solutions for women and other marginalized populations. In this blog post, we will discuss the importance of digital technology to support gender equity and how it can help to create a better future for everyone.

Students interviewing the beneficiaries of Concern For The Girl Child

What is International Women's Day?

International Women's Day (IWD) is an international holiday celebrated annually on March 8th. It is a day dedicated to recognizing the social, economic, and cultural achievements of women to promote gender equality around the world. IWD began in the early 1900s as a way for female activists to call for their rights and fight for gender equality, and it has since become an internationally recognized event. This year, the theme of IWD is "Adopting Digital Technologies for Gender Equity," which highlights the importance of adopting digital technologies to help accelerate progress toward gender equality.

In many countries worldwide, women are disadvantaged and face various forms of discrimination. This is particularly true in Africa, where the gap between men's and women's access to resources and opportunities is even more pronounced. By adopting digital technology, women can access resources and new opportunities that otherwise would not be available to them. Cameras For Girls was founded to provide females across Africa with cameras and digital tools to help them get paid work, escape poverty, and inspire gender equality.

Why Is Going Digital Important For Gender Equity?

Digital tools can help us break down communication barriers between genders and cultures, creating a safe space for men and women to engage in meaningful dialogue. By going digital, we can create more equitable opportunities for females in fields such as STEM, entrepreneurship, politics, and more. Furthermore, digital technologies can also enable us to collect data on gender-based discrimination and monitor progress toward achieving global gender parity.

We need to take active steps toward adopting digital tech for gender equality. This could include initiatives like investing in creating female-oriented coding clubs or offering more digital literacy courses specifically aimed at women and girls. We should also ensure that these resources are accessible and affordable to everyone, regardless of income or location. Additionally, introducing laws protecting female employees from workplace discrimination and harassment based on gender is essential. Finally, working with companies to develop fair wages and policies for female workers will create an equal working environment. Adopting these steps will encourage increased participation by women and girls across different sectors, helping reduce the wide gender gap that still exists today.

What Can You Do To Help Advance Gender Equity?

You can take numerous actions to advance gender equality in your everyday life. One fundamental way to help with gender equity is by adopting digital technology and making it accessible to females in your community. Digital tools have opened new doors for women in previously under-served or neglected areas, allowing them to participate in education, economic development and entrepreneurship activities. By investing in digital tools and training for women, we can help bridge the digital divide that exists between men and women.

By embracing digital tools and supporting digital initiatives, we can make significant progress toward gender equity worldwide. From creating more digital resources that promote gender equity, such as textbooks and websites, to training more women in coding and programming, digital tools can help level the playing field. Similarly, digital tools can be used to advocate for gender equity in Africa by allowing women and girls access to the internet and mobile devices, which can provide them with vital access to resources and information. 

What is Cameras For Girls doing to advance gender equity?

At Cameras For Girls, we are dedicated to helping girls and young women embrace their power and reach their full potential through technology and education. We provide girls with access to digital cameras and hands-on workshops on how to use them. Through our online and in-person workshops, females endeavouring to become journalists can develop their skills in creating meaningful visual stories and documenting their lives, dreams, and impact on their communities. By leveraging the power of digital technology to create meaningful content, expand their voice, and make an impact, they can achieve gender parity in the male-dominated societies they live in, especially regarding their career options, which is where there is a massive difference, not only in opportunities but also in pay. 

How Can We Sustain The Momentum After International Women's Day?

While International Women's Day marks a special day of celebration, it is only one day. We must ask ourselves, how can we sustain the momentum after International Women's Day?

One way to sustain the momentum is by adopting digital tech for gender equality. The advances in technology allow us to use digital tools to expand the conversation about gender equality beyond March 8th. Using digital platforms such as social media, blogs and websites, we can create a platform for people worldwide to come together and discuss issues related to gender equality. This will help us create a continuous dialogue beyond just one day of the year.

Ultimately, the best way to sustain the momentum after International Women's Day is by remaining committed to creating a more equitable future for all women and girls worldwide. This includes having difficult conversations, challenging oppressive systems, and pushing for change wherever possible. By taking action daily, we can ensure that the progress made on International Women's Day continues beyond March 8th.