International Women’s Day special: highlighting how far women have come and the challenges of today
It is that time of the week again, happy Friday and welcome back to the latest edition of Privy Presents, a newsletter specifically curated by Privy team to discuss digital identity and other closely related topics, delivered to you every Friday.?
This week, we celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8, 2023.? It is a commemoration of how far women have come throughout the years and a form of spreading awareness on gender equality issues women still face today.?
Why do women celebrate International Women’s Day??
In today’s age, women can do many things starting from pursuing their education, career, and determining their life’s decision. However, many years ago, women have no rights to vote, property ownership, even access towards banking services. Back then in Indonesia, women were not allowed to go to school let alone pursuing their own career.?
How did International Women’s Day start??
There was a movement on equality that started in the early 19th century with its peak in 1908 when 15,000 women gathered in New York City demanding shorter working hours, better work pay, and the right to vote. The event was then declared the first National Women’s Day in the U.S.??
Later, this movement was brought to the international stage by a woman activist, Clara Zetkin, at the International Conference of Working Women and the first International Women’s Day was celebrated in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland.?
How is Women’s Day celebrated across the world??
Many countries mark International Women’s Day as a national holiday. BBC mentioned that in China, women received a half-day off work. In Italy, they celebrate International Women’s Day by giving out mimosa blossoms. In the US, the whole month of March is Women’s History Month to honor the achievement of American Women.???
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Challenges of today for women in digital age?
The increase in internet usage and technology dependency today have created another ecosystem to maintain; the digital ecosystem. However, UN Women noted that 37% of women still do not use the internet. If women are unable to access the internet and do not feel safe online, they will not be able to develop the necessary digital skills to engage in the digital space.??
Noting to UN Women, over 22% of women make up artificial intelligence workers globally, a global analysis of 133 AI systems across industries found that 44.2% demonstrate gender bias, and 73% of women journalists have suffered online violence in the course of their work.??
The gender gap in the digital ecosystem keeps women from unlocking technology’s full potential. The threat of online gender-based violence is also the reason that often forces women out of the digital ecosystem they are in.??
As if those weren’t enough, women have also been facing abundant amount of sexual harassment cases online, one of which where they are being blackmailed into sharing explicit pictures and videos—some described in a very gruesome situation—for commercial distribution online.????
It is important to create a safer digital environment so that not only women, but every single internet's user can have a safe and convenient experience online.??
Today’s generation of women can reap the fruit from the movement taken place hundreds of years ago. International Women’s Day celebrates how far women have come throughout the years.???
Even though gender equality is still the biggest issue for women today, the fight for equality for women is still progressing and moving toward a better direction.?
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Thank you for reading and we look forward to sharing more exciting news and updates with you next Friday!??
Until then, may you have a great week ahead and we’ll see you soon.?
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