Mamshungulii
Senior Member
- May 3, 2023
- 175
- 88
Despite women breaking barriers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations and some overcoming obstacles in leadership roles, the transformation of the gender landscape in the workplace remains somewhat limited.
Gender imbalances across occupations and sectors
Unsurprisingly, women still occupy traditionally female roles in the workplace across many sectors and occupations.
Example, occupations related to nursing and childcare exhibit exceptionally high female shares, with figures reaching over 90 per cent.
Positions in teaching and education also boast a significant female presence, especially in primary school and early childhood teaching. Similarly, elementary occupations related to cooking and cleaning have high shares of women.
Conversely, certain high-risk occupations, like locomotive engine driving, heavy machinery operations, and ship deck crews, are devoid of female representation.
The same can be said of many other plant and machine operators, as well as trades workers and labourers. Meanwhile, the most gender-balanced occupations are often seen among sales workers and business and administration professionals.
Women are also over-represented in certain manufacturing industries, such as those related to industries like mining, quarrying, and construction-centric activities continue to be male-dominated.
Retail sectors, however, present a more balanced gender distribution Example a mere 1 per cent of mining managers are women, unsurprisingly given the mining sector is male dominated.
Meanwhile, there is a more balanced gender representation for managers in public relations, human resources, finance, and business services, where women hold almost half of these managerial positions.
Notably, only about one-fifth of managing directors and chief executives are women. These findings reflect not just a gap in numbers but, more importantly, in opportunities, empowerment, and perceptions.
THE INCLUSION OF WOMEN IN STEM OCCUPATIONS IS ESSENTIAL nurture diverse perspectives from well-rounded workplaces, rectifying historical gender inequalities, spurring economic growth via innovation, inspiring future generations, addressing intricate national issues, and championing inclusiveness and fairness.
So, while there has been some improvement, women remain significantly underrepresented in a number of STEM occupations, particularly those related to technology and engineering.
Example, women represent only around 5 per cent of civil engineers and software developers. In fact, the information and communication technology (ICT) sector still has less than a quarter of women and the gender wage gap is often high in this sector.
There are fields where women lead, areas where they’re just stepping in, and some where they’re still largely absent. Remarkably, traditional views and patterns persist, with limited signs of change – be it in STEM occupations or managerial positions.
As a matter of navigation towards a more equitable future, it’s vital to keep the dialogue alive, challenge norms, and most importantly, celebrate every stride towards gender parity.
Every figure, every statistic, and every story hold the potential to inspire change and set new milestones in our collective pursuit of equality.
The world economy is undergoing a period of rapid change, with important impacts on women. Globalization and increasing competition are favouring technology-intensive production and skilled labour.
Automation and advances in information technology are reducing the importance of the low-skill, labour-intensive occupations in sectors such as agriculture and textiles which have traditionally been seen as women’s work.
Women in industry are already disadvantaged in our country. they tend to be concentrated in low-level jobs, where they are poorly paid, lack social services, and face exposure to health hazards.
If their skills are not upgraded to enable their full participation in the technology-based industries of the future, women are likely to face further disadvantages in finding and keeping jobs. Where retraining programmes do exist, they are all too often focused on men.
On the other hand, when women are given access to training, technology and credit, they can play a full role in economic and social development.
Changes in industrial structure and production technology give women great opportunities for poverty alleviation, self-sufficiency through income generation, and productive businesses that create local employment.
The creativity and talents of all women are an invaluable resource, which can and should be developed both for their own self-realization and for the benefit of society as a whole.
The key to enhancing women’s opportunities, and hence their position in industry and the economy, is to provide them with access to know-how, technologies and credit.
Training to upgrade women’s technological capabilities and to enhance their entrepreneurial and business skills, whether in simple artisanal production or in high technology industries, is at the heart of allowing women to advance to more rewarding positions.
Rural areas use rudimentary and time-consuming technologies in their informal production activities, which are typically in the agricultural sector.
Many existing technologies also contribute to unsafe working environments or environmental degradation, where women are often particularly at risk.
Introducing new and appropriate technologies can not only simplify work, reduce drudgery and help improve working conditions and the environment, but also create and improve income-generating activities for women. There are three obstacles, however, which hinder equitable use of new technologies by women:
Access. Women have less access than men to cleaner, safer and more efficient technologies;
Credit. Despite evidence that women’s loan repayment rates are higher than men’s, women still face more difficulties in obtaining credit for new technologies;
Training. Women are less often trained in the operation, maintenance and repair of new and improved technologies
By overcoming these obstacles, there is a need in building awareness of alternative techniques; developing skills and capabilities for operating and applying new technologies; and developing and transferring technological solutions.
There is also a need to go beyond the technologies themselves, however, and also to help in developing the institutional and policy infrastructures necessary to support the introduction of new technologies.
There is a need to: -
• Assists women in meeting the challenges of industrial restructuring and technological change, and in participating on an equal basis both in industrial decision-making and in the benefits of development.
• Promote the advancement of women through mainstreaming, recognizing women as full actors and equal partners in development activities and training programmes.
• Remove obstacles preventing the full participation of women in development.
Gender imbalances across occupations and sectors
Unsurprisingly, women still occupy traditionally female roles in the workplace across many sectors and occupations.
Example, occupations related to nursing and childcare exhibit exceptionally high female shares, with figures reaching over 90 per cent.
Positions in teaching and education also boast a significant female presence, especially in primary school and early childhood teaching. Similarly, elementary occupations related to cooking and cleaning have high shares of women.
Conversely, certain high-risk occupations, like locomotive engine driving, heavy machinery operations, and ship deck crews, are devoid of female representation.
The same can be said of many other plant and machine operators, as well as trades workers and labourers. Meanwhile, the most gender-balanced occupations are often seen among sales workers and business and administration professionals.
Women are also over-represented in certain manufacturing industries, such as those related to industries like mining, quarrying, and construction-centric activities continue to be male-dominated.
Retail sectors, however, present a more balanced gender distribution Example a mere 1 per cent of mining managers are women, unsurprisingly given the mining sector is male dominated.
Meanwhile, there is a more balanced gender representation for managers in public relations, human resources, finance, and business services, where women hold almost half of these managerial positions.
Notably, only about one-fifth of managing directors and chief executives are women. These findings reflect not just a gap in numbers but, more importantly, in opportunities, empowerment, and perceptions.
THE INCLUSION OF WOMEN IN STEM OCCUPATIONS IS ESSENTIAL nurture diverse perspectives from well-rounded workplaces, rectifying historical gender inequalities, spurring economic growth via innovation, inspiring future generations, addressing intricate national issues, and championing inclusiveness and fairness.
So, while there has been some improvement, women remain significantly underrepresented in a number of STEM occupations, particularly those related to technology and engineering.
Example, women represent only around 5 per cent of civil engineers and software developers. In fact, the information and communication technology (ICT) sector still has less than a quarter of women and the gender wage gap is often high in this sector.
There are fields where women lead, areas where they’re just stepping in, and some where they’re still largely absent. Remarkably, traditional views and patterns persist, with limited signs of change – be it in STEM occupations or managerial positions.
As a matter of navigation towards a more equitable future, it’s vital to keep the dialogue alive, challenge norms, and most importantly, celebrate every stride towards gender parity.
Every figure, every statistic, and every story hold the potential to inspire change and set new milestones in our collective pursuit of equality.
The world economy is undergoing a period of rapid change, with important impacts on women. Globalization and increasing competition are favouring technology-intensive production and skilled labour.
Automation and advances in information technology are reducing the importance of the low-skill, labour-intensive occupations in sectors such as agriculture and textiles which have traditionally been seen as women’s work.
Women in industry are already disadvantaged in our country. they tend to be concentrated in low-level jobs, where they are poorly paid, lack social services, and face exposure to health hazards.
If their skills are not upgraded to enable their full participation in the technology-based industries of the future, women are likely to face further disadvantages in finding and keeping jobs. Where retraining programmes do exist, they are all too often focused on men.
On the other hand, when women are given access to training, technology and credit, they can play a full role in economic and social development.
Changes in industrial structure and production technology give women great opportunities for poverty alleviation, self-sufficiency through income generation, and productive businesses that create local employment.
The creativity and talents of all women are an invaluable resource, which can and should be developed both for their own self-realization and for the benefit of society as a whole.
The key to enhancing women’s opportunities, and hence their position in industry and the economy, is to provide them with access to know-how, technologies and credit.
Training to upgrade women’s technological capabilities and to enhance their entrepreneurial and business skills, whether in simple artisanal production or in high technology industries, is at the heart of allowing women to advance to more rewarding positions.
Rural areas use rudimentary and time-consuming technologies in their informal production activities, which are typically in the agricultural sector.
Many existing technologies also contribute to unsafe working environments or environmental degradation, where women are often particularly at risk.
Introducing new and appropriate technologies can not only simplify work, reduce drudgery and help improve working conditions and the environment, but also create and improve income-generating activities for women. There are three obstacles, however, which hinder equitable use of new technologies by women:
Access. Women have less access than men to cleaner, safer and more efficient technologies;
Credit. Despite evidence that women’s loan repayment rates are higher than men’s, women still face more difficulties in obtaining credit for new technologies;
Training. Women are less often trained in the operation, maintenance and repair of new and improved technologies
By overcoming these obstacles, there is a need in building awareness of alternative techniques; developing skills and capabilities for operating and applying new technologies; and developing and transferring technological solutions.
There is also a need to go beyond the technologies themselves, however, and also to help in developing the institutional and policy infrastructures necessary to support the introduction of new technologies.
There is a need to: -
• Assists women in meeting the challenges of industrial restructuring and technological change, and in participating on an equal basis both in industrial decision-making and in the benefits of development.
• Promote the advancement of women through mainstreaming, recognizing women as full actors and equal partners in development activities and training programmes.
• Remove obstacles preventing the full participation of women in development.
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