Women On Top: Promoting gender equality in the field of Information Technology and New Technologies
Women On Top, in collaboration with six organizations from Belgium, Cyprus, Italy, Spain and Sweden, announces the successful completion of the two-year Femin-ICT project, co-financed by the European Union.
With the primary objective of increasing the representation of women in the field of Information and New Technologies, the initiative sought to reveal and address barriers in order to encourage the participation of women in the field.
As part of the results of the Women On Top project a Policy Map was created, i.e. a thorough examination of policies for gender equality both at European and national level, with particular emphasis on the field of Information and New Technologies. The result of extensive research, interviews and focus groups resulted in actionable proposals to address the pressing issue of gender inequality in the field.
The analysis underlines the imperative need for joint efforts across all European countries to combat gender inequality. The unique challenges in each partner country collectively pave the way for greater inclusion in the IT and New Technologies sector.
At European level, the findings highlight the central role of state support in strengthening childcare systems and supporting people with care responsibilities. The report supports the promotion of cultural conversations to awareness and removal of responsibility from individual companies, fighting stereotypes that hinder women’s advancement in the field.
Despite existing regulations, female migrants in the EU labor market face higher rates of unemployment. The report calls for a critical examination of laws and policies, emphasizing the need to evaluate their effectiveness in promoting gender equality in the ICT sector.
Women entrepreneurs also face disparities in funding but also criticism, especially in individual businesses. Suggested steps include legislative and cultural changes, educational reforms and workplace initiatives.
The gap between legal provisions and reality underlines the need for action beyond the legal framework. Strategies at the local level include:
- the promotion of digital literacy
- the mentoring programs
- the legislative changes
- dealing with internalized misogyny
- the promotion of standards
- the recognition of unpaid care responsibilities
These proposed strategic steps, which include legislative and cultural changes, educational reforms and initiatives in the workplace, contribute to a fairer and more diverse ICT sector, both locally and at European level. This effort is vital to a future where the field of Information Technology and New Technologies reflects the richness and diversity of talent from all backgrounds.