Concerning gender diversity, the IT industry faces both a challenge and an opportunity. As in many other disciplines, women are underrepresented in the leadership of the technology sector. However, this situation also presents an opportunity: tech companies that can expand their ranks of female executives stand to gain significantly. It is critical to promote and support more women and girls to enter STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) sectors for the sake of global economies and the global transition to sustainability. There were many ways in which technological advancements aided women's capability and resource development. Women's adoption, usage, and pervasiveness of ICTs span the broad areas of outreach (e.g., health promotion), education (e.g., health literacy opportunities), lifestyle (e.g., peer coaching and planning), prevention (e.g., screening opportunities), health challenges (e.g., intimate partner violence apps), and perceptions of barriers.
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The chapter commences by emphasizing the historical backdrop, including the proclamation by the United Nations General Assembly designating February 11 as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. The paper also examines the progression of gender ratios in STEM disciplines over multiple decades, specifically from 1955 to 2010. The inclusion of a historical perspective facilitates readers' comprehension of the enduring character of the matter at hand. The chapter presents a comprehensive perspective on the gender gap in STEM across many locations and fields by referencing studies from multiple sources, such as the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), UNESCO, the STEM Equity Monitor, and the National Science Foundation. The utilization of a wide range of data sources enhances the reliability and trustworthiness of the information being delivered. The platform offers current statistical data about the disparity between genders, encompassing the proportions of women engaged in scientific, technological, engineering, and mathematical (STEM) fields, as well as their presence within academic and industrial environments. An analysis of the present condition is necessary to comprehend the current terrain. The chapter also addresses the concept of intersectionality by examining the inequalities experienced by marginalized populations, including African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans, and those with disabilities. This contribution enhances the breadth of the discourse and recognizes that the gender disparity in STEM is not the sole facet of inequality. The chapter encompasses regional viewpoints, emphasizing disparities in female representation across different nations and continents. This statement acknowledges the importance of considering the contextual variations in the gender gap across different locations, introducing a nuanced perspective to the ongoing topic. The chapter provides an analysis of gender inequality within the academic sphere, with a particular focus on the obstacles encountered by women in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) about their research and publication endeavors. This analysis offers a comprehensive perspective on the gender discrepancies observed across various domains within the field of STEM.
Concerning gender diversity, the IT industry faces both a challenge and an opportunity. As in many other disciplines, women are underrepresented in the leadership of the technology sector. However, this situation also presents an opportunity: tech companies that can expand their ranks of female executives stand to gain significantly. It is critical to promote and support more women and girls to enter STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) sectors for the sake of global economies and the global transition to sustainability. There were many ways in which technological advancements aided women's capability and resource development. Women's adoption, usage, and pervasiveness of ICTs, which span the broad areas of outreach (e.g., health promotion), education (e.g., health literacy opportunities), lifestyle (e.g., peer coaching and planning), prevention (e.g., screening opportunities), health challenges (e.g., intimate partner violence apps), and perceptions of barriers (i.e., women's health).
Despite women's widespread usage of technological solutions, scholars disagreed on how best to define and apply the concept of empowerment. Empowerment is hard to assess since different research use different and often insufficient measures of empowerment. Young women and girls all across the world perform vital roles as activists and protectors of human rights. Since they are often shut out of official decision-making processes, they participate in public life through nontraditional channels like internet discussion boards. They have restricted access to resources including education, career development, and employment. Their engagement is hindered by a variety of circumstances, including climate change, ongoing conflicts, authoritarian regimes, gender and age-based discrimination, and online abuse and harassment.