The Power of Tech Queens
- Aisha Nasara Sulemana
- Oct 28, 2016
- 3 min read
How many times in our African homes have we heard our parents say " Ama" or " Akosua" or " "Mariam" come fix this television for me. Or say, there's a problem with the laptop come help me fix it. However it's common for parents, aunties, uncles and guardians to quickly call onto their male wards to help them fix technical hitches at home.
Women for for a long while have been placed steps behind when it comes to technology in Africa. According to a survey conducted by "Women's Right Online" in collaboration with "Webfoundation", 41% of females access the internet on their mobile phones as compared to 79% of males in Egypt.
In the research, it showed that 66% of males believed that women should be restricted from using the Internet. 67% of male respondents believed it was their responsibility to restrict women's access to internet. While 64% believed that they have the priority of using the internet over women.
An alarming factor is how women are abused online. Despite the lesser women to men who have access to the Internet in Egypt,the few women online are also being abused. According to the research, women are twice likely to experience sexual harassment using their mobile phones and/ or the Internet. Facebook is the main source of sexual harassment and bullying online. Also, when women are exposed to online violence they are 4 times less likely to take any action compared to men.
In Ghana, less than 20% of women have access to the Internet according to the women's right online survey. This is an alarming rate as the population of Ghana consists of about 51% females and 49% males. This shows how lesser women are likely to be online than men.
There is a huge gender gap between women and men according to " women's right online" survey in terms of Internet access, digital skills and online rights. This gender bridge is caused by high cost of Internet, lack of know-how that is the basic skills needed to be abreast with technology. Also, there is scarcity of content online that is relevant and empowering for women. There are also barriers to women speaking freely and privately online.
All seems to look gloomy when it comes to women and technology in Africa. However there are some positive initiatives that are being undertaking to get more women into technology. In Ghana for instance, Mobile Web Ghana and I Space have undertaken an initiative called " Unlocking Women in Technology -UWAT" This program seeks to equip women and girls with digital skills and enhance them in using it for entrepreneurship projects. These projects also seek to indulge more females into the digital world.
Another Initiative by mobile Web Ghana is the "FIME" that is Females in Mobile Entrepreneurship . This project seeks to increase female participation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, (STEM). It empowers females through mobile technology training and events.
There are are also other technology initiatives for women across Africa. Some include, IHUB- Nairobi Kenya with AKIRACHIX, Bongo HiveZambian with AKISANA NETWORK, Hive Colab Uganda with WITU (Women in Tech Uganda) and TANZ ICT Tanzania with FEMTANZ.
We we all as Africans have a role to play in ensuring females get equipped in digital skills, to get online and get connected across the globe. After all, Dr. Kwegyir Aggrey once said “If you educate a man, you educate an individual. If you educate a woman, you educate a nation.”
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