Shared efforts needed to inspire women
ENCOURAGING more young women to study the Stem (science, technology, engineering and maths) fields is not enough when they struggle to be absorbed into these industries. Global culture is evolving towards equality, and leaders of the 21st century need to be inclusive in their policies and vision. Allowing more women to participate in the economy, with equal standing to men, is the responsibility of everyone.
Countries that promote women and recognise the unique value they add to society, politics and the economy do better than those that do not. Companies that embrace diversity and promote competent women to senior leadership positions also do better than their peers who fail to capitalise on this important human resource.
It makes no sense to leave half of your population out of the economy and decision-making, particularly in this era of technology and the fourth industrial revolution, when a varied skill-set of creative and critical thinking is more valuable than the ability to lift heavy machinery.
The case for gender equality has been made all over the world. Women’s rights are human rights, and these rights are enshrined in our constitution. These rights should be fiercely protected by both men and women.
The fourth industrial revolution will bring intense alterations to the way we live, work and relate to one another, and will likely result in rapid changes within humanity.
Already, technology and automation are being introduced into mining, and it is expected that cashiers, bank tellers, petrol attendants, and many who work in retail are at risk of losing their jobs during this wave.
Once driverless cars hit the market, which is not too far off into the future, Uber and cab drivers will also be sidelined. The World Economic Forum predicts that 41% of jobs will be erased in South Africa. Already we have reached a point where entry-level professions require technological skills. But women are lagging behind. It is reported that approximately 3.9 billion people globally have no access to connectivity, and women represent 58% of this figure.
However, it is also important to note that with each industrial revolution, job losses were transformed into new job opportunities. Automation and artificial intelligence may be able to complete certain jobs faster, and with more accuracy than humans, but the human element will always be required.
Emotional intelligence is an artistry that robotics cannot compute. This explains why some hail the fourth industrial revolution as a revolution for women. The perspectives and experiences of women are needed in Stem fields as these fields will dictate the social and cultural changes we are yet to realise.
The Motsepe Foundation recently sponsored the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation leg of the National Science Week, with more than 3 000 learners and teachers being exposed to careers in Stem fields. We will also be taking more than 1600 girl learners and teachers to Stem workshops, to promote the necessity of women’s roles in the fourth industrial revolution.
The foundation is always willing to partner with organisations that promote Stem programmes, and particularly those that are willing to provide role models to girls.
To inspire women’s participation requires the efforts of the government, the private sector and other stakeholders actively working towards closing the gender gap. It requires the transformation of culture and norms towards inclusive diversity. Men in leadership positions must advocate for the rise of women, particularly in the male-dominated engineering, manufacturing and construction, and information and communication technology sectors.
Without women who are already in positions of authentic power, encouraging the presence of other young women is unlikely. Programmes that are inclusive of women should not be isolated, and the targeting of young professionals should be inclusive of women and men mentors in senior positions. Men have a duty to redistribute the authority they have held for so long.
Women’s needs in the workplace have to be considered to align the interests of women within these careers. The provision of childcare and paid maternity leave is not optional. Holding back women from their careers because of familial responsibilities limits our growth collectively. The equal representation of women in the workplace has to be followed by equal earnings and authority.
It has also been found that women lack self-confidence in the workplace, especially in fields that are male-dominated, because of infrequent feedback and collaboration. Stem industries demand creativity and real world problem-solving skills, and these techniques work best with teamwork and evaluation by all stakeholders.
To foster a new generation of leading women to build on the legacy of others such as Mary Malahele Xakana, the first black woman to register as a medical doctor in South Africa; Mama Winnie Nomzamo Mandela, the first black social worker in South Africa; Ferial Haffajee, the first woman to edit a national mainstream newspaper; and Pam Golding, the first woman to be honoured as Business Leader of the Year by the Kaapstad Sakekamer, girls must be empowered from the primary and secondary school levels.
The improvement of our cultural values, to recognise the value women provide, is imperative for us to realise the reduction of poverty and income inequality. Feminism is the act of advocating for humanity, and we are all compelled to join the movement.
‘It has also been found that women lack self-confidence’