Friday, September 30, 2011

Technology and Social Progress: What Happens to the Women?

Technology has always been considered as the core of social progress for a long, long time. The question is what do we mean by social progress. If we say the technological advancement and economic progress are the only things then the concept is right but what if we think of humanity? Technological advancements are shaped by the society and by society I mean the dominants of the society. The men have always ruled the society in the past years and the influence is visible in the field of technology too. In the most important fields like economy and politics the women are still not participating that much even in the developed countries and it is applicable for the women of the countries with less gender gap too. In my lifetime there has been around 30 female presidents/prime ministers among more than 200 presidents/prime ministers which is really lower than the expectation though I feel encouraged sometimes looking at my own country which is a developing one and yet there has been no male prime minister in this country for more than 15 years! This should be a great example of female leadership for all the countries where the women are oppressed.


The most usual position of the women in the tech industry and corporate world is the position of receptionist, reporter or PA. If we try to find them on the top there will be examples but that is too less than the men. Women have already proved their merit and skill in the field of science and studies. Now it is time to use that merit in the practical field, time to take decisions for the nations, time to contribute equally in the national and the global economy. In the developed countries the women need to step ahead and in the developing and under developed countries everyone else should try so that they can step ahead. If the current trend continues in the same way then it will take too many years to erase the thick line of gender gap and we will not be there to witness the great success with our own eyes. We need change to make them happen. We need initiative.