Empowering Women in Privacy: Ways to Recognize Women’s Contributions and Inspire Future Generations

International Women’s Day commemorates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women worldwide. It’s also a day to raise awareness of the issues and disadvantages that women still face in the society. In celebration of this significant day, here are some recent positive and critical headlines about women:

On the Positive Side:

1. Women in Leadership According to a recent Lean In research, more women executives are quitting their positions to explore other possibilities. This can be interpreted as a positive sign that more women are gaining the influence and power; and having the ability to choose their career paths.

2. Women in STEM Women are breaking down barriers in different disciplines of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Dr. Nergis Mavalvala, an astrophysicist at MIT, for example, was a part of the team that discovered gravitational waves for the first time in history.

3. Women in Sports Women athletes are smashing records and pushing limits in their respective sports. For example, tennis star Naomi Osaka became the highest-paid female athlete in the history in 2021, earning a whopping $55 million in a single year.

On the Negative Side:

Towards the other end come different scenarios laying focus on the significance of recognizing the work that still needs to be done to build a brighter future for women.

1. Gender-based Violence Gender-based violence is a critical issue all throughout the world. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in every three women have the possibility of facing physical or sexual assault throughout her lifetime, which is unacceptable and require addressing of the concern.

2. Bias in the Workplace Women still continue to endure difficulties in workplace, including lower pay, less prospects for growth, and sexual harassment. For example, in 2021, the US Women’s Soccer Team launched a complaint against the US Soccer Federation for gender discrimination.

3. Lack of Political Representation Women continue to be underrepresented in politics, with them holding just 25% of legislative seats globally. It is because of this lack of representation that their views on vital topics aren’t being heard, and policies aren’t developed considering women’s interests.

Women’s Impact on Privacy and Technology

Women have made significant contributions to the technology and privacy throughout history, right from Ada Lovelace (credited with writing the world’s first computer program in the 1800s), to today’s leaders in the field. In honor of Women’s History Month, we celebrate the achievements of women across the globe and their impact on the privacy world.

Several women have advocated for female and underrepresented groups in the tech industry, while others have been vocal privacy rights advocates for decades. Additionally, some have made significant contributions to internet security and privacy, and have been strong advocates for diversity and inclusion in tech. Such women and several others paved the way for a more diverse and inclusive tech industry, inspiring future generations of women in technology and privacy to follow in their footsteps.

Being a woman-run company, we understand the significant contributions by women in the realm of privacy. Amid the era of neglecting and devaluating women’s role in this critical subject, we work in coherence towards acknowledging their accomplishments.

Ways to recognize women’s contribution: Working together and supporting each other can help us build a brighter future for women. Here are six ways through which you can honor women’s efforts and encourage future generations:

1. Host Insightful Lunch and Learns: On International Women’s Day, hosting a Lunch and Learn is a great approach to inform and motivate your staff about gender equality-related aspects. Discuss issues like –

• Gender wage gap

• Lack of women in leadership positions

• Difficulties faced by women in fields that are predominant.

Inviting a guest speaker or hosting a panel discussion can help address these areas. It can present a chance for information and viewpoint exchange, as well as promote candid conversation about critical subjects.

2. Recognize Women within your group: International Women’s Day is an excellent opportunity to acknowledge the efforts of women in your organization. This could involve promoting female employees’ successes or celebrating women who have made a difference in your sector or community. You can also consider developing a recognition program that recognizes the accomplishment of women in your workplace.

3. Share stories of how women contribute: Sharing tales about how women make a difference in the society can serve to inspire others and increase awareness about the need of gender equality. You can tell the story of a woman making an impact in your business, neighborhood, or the nation too. You can also urge your colleagues to discuss their personal experiences with women in their lives.

4. Promote Diversity and Inclusion: Encouraging diversity and inclusion in the privacy sector can aid in ensuring that women and other underrepresented groups have equal opportunity to flourish. This is possible by establishing rules and procedures that promote diversity and inclusion, like –

• Flexible work schedules

• Equity compensation

• Diverse recruiting processes

5. Encourage thought and reflection: International Women’s Day celebrates women’s achievements and acknowledges the ongoing struggles for gender equality. Women face discrimination and inequality in various forms, including unequal pay, limited access to education and healthcare, and violence. Encouraging thought and reflection can involve –

• Listening to diverse perspectives

• Supporting gender equality organization

• Advocating for policies, and

• Reflecting on our own biases.

By working towards gender equality, we can create a better future for all women.

6. Encourage networking and collaboration: Women should be encouraged to network and interact with other privacy experts to create partnerships and get useful insights into the area. This can be achieved by –

• Hosting network events

• Establishing online communities

• Collaborating with other organizations to foster collaboration.

By empowering women in privacy, we can recognize their contributions, inspire future generations, and promote diversity and inclusion in the field. These actions can help create a more equitable and inclusive workplace that benefits everyone.