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Do we inspire inclusion in the workplace?

BlackOak Consulting

Be Bold!

发布日期: 2024年3月8日

Women have come far from the shackles of the 1950s in the fight for gender equality to date, but the battle to make women feel included continues in every sphere of life today. To inspire this inclusivity, women need to show up and be visible. This will inspire younger women to include others and aspire to be included. Following this train of thought, in the technological space, mentorship proves vital to the belief that women can and should be included in workspaces, and that they do belong and are as capable as their male counterparts.

In 2022, Africa was found to be the continent that had the highest number of female STEM university graduates globally, standing at 47%. Africa has done really well in getting women to study STEM—bravo! However, this is not reflected in the visibility and uptake of positions in this field, a trend that is happening worldwide. This is highlighted by the Observer Research Forum, stating that, “Women comprised 29.2 percent of the STEM workforce in 146 nations evaluated”. Children are not seeing these STEM graduates entering this field as teachers, mentors, scientists, etc. Almost every time, they are taught their first computer course by men, giving them the first impression that the field is male dominated. Seeing a person who is the same as you (i.e., representation) being and existing in a field you are interested in might just propel young girls to pursue that career path, rather than going into it without an example. This is supported by Kaziboni & Uys (2015), who purport that women who have access to relatable role models are more likely to prosper in academia, compared to those who lack access to them. A young female probably stumbles into a career as an astronomer by chance, not as something that she can say, "I've always wanted to be an astronomer because I had female astronomer role models," as even in the kinds of shows she watches, the scientist is almost always male.

Inclusion of women in the workforce is important in STEM as it can lead to income equality which will answer to one of the Sustainable Development Goals which seeks to eliminate poverty. In addition, by putting a lot of women in the STEM workforce, girl children can have role models that they can relate to. This can result in children being able to actively pursue STEM careers with no qualms as they have seen it done before. Furthermore, inclusion creates diverse perspectives as it gathers knowledge from people of various backgrounds. Bringing together these different viewpoints can foster innovation and creativity, a very vital ingredient in ICT and the STEM workforce as a whole. Additionally, inclusive environments promote collaboration and teamwork. When people feel valued and respected for their contributions, they are more likely to actively participate and share their ideas. This can lead to breakthroughs and much-needed research as people are not afraid to participate and question things, as the environment allows them to thrive.

As we celebrate IWD today, we need to introspect and further support women in their quest for gender equity by ensuring that every woman everywhere feels included, heard, and seen. By doing so, we will be inspiring inclusion.