UN highlights tech gender gap on International Women’s Day

Carmen Antiqueira, Web Summit’s women in tech community manager, reflects on the importance of the UN’s theme of innovation and technology for gender equality on #IWD2023.

This year, for International Women’s Day, the UN has chosen ‘DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality’ as its official theme. At the most fundamental level, this means shining a light on basic access to the internet and other technologies. According to the UN, 259 million fewer women have online access than men, even though they account for nearly half the world’s population.

This technology gap widens when it comes to STEM education and careers. The UN’s Gender Snapshot 2022 report found that globally, while young women outnumber young men in third-level education, women account for only 35 percent of STEM students and 3 percent of those enrolled in information and communication technology studies.

A global analysis of 133 AI systems across multiple industries found that 44.2 percent demonstrate gender bias in favour of men. – the UN

If we pay attention to one of the fastest-growing fields within technology – artificial intelligence – we can discover the knock-on effects of women making up only 22 percent of AI workers globally. For example, the UN reported that a global analysis of 133 AI systems across multiple industries found that 44.2 percent demonstrate gender bias in favour of men.

The economic consequences of gender inequality within innovation and technology are clear: the Gender Snapshot report also found that an estimated US$1 trillion has been lost from the gross domestic product of low- and middle-income countries in the last decade and that this will rise to US$1.5 trillion by 2025 unless it’s addressed.

Web Summit’s commitment to the women in tech community

Here at Web Summit, we want to encourage change and we are determined to be part of this change.

“We were excited that the UN’s theme for this year’s IWD is DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality. We are excited because for over 5 years we have been actively helping to build a more inclusive and diverse tech industry,” said Carmen Antiqueira, manager of Web Summit’s women in tech community, which is substantial and growing in size.

Carmen went on to explain that since our North American event, Collision, began to measure the gender balance across its events in 2015 when it launched its women in tech programme, it has revealed an impressive increase in participation by women.

50.5 percent of Web Summit 2021 attendees were women

In 2021, 44 percent of registered Collision attendees were women, and by November 2021, our Web Summit event had, for the first time ever, more women than men in attendance.

“Walking around the women in tech lounge in Collision and Web Summit it was reassuring to hear comments from women about how surprised they were to see so many other women at an important tech event. When I hear comments like this it lets me know we are doing something right,” Carmen added.

Carmen went on to explain that an important aspect of the women in tech programme is the financial equity provided that enables many more women to access Web Summit events. If you’re a woman in tech and attending a Web Summit event this year, we look forward to meeting you!

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Main image of Web Summit 2022 attendees at the startup booths: Web Summit (CC BY 2.0)