In the August 2021 Newsletter
  Gender Inequality in the Digital Age / Events

“The digital ecosystem is reflecting and amplifying gender inequalities in society,” according to a recent study by Our Secure Future. Now with the situation in Afghanistan, gender inequality takes on a whole new meaning. Here’s information and how to help.

Why Does It Matter?

It’s an issue that impacts everyone since technology itself impacts all aspects of our lives. The digital economy accounts for nearly 16 percent of global GDP and is growing two-and-a-half times faster than the rest of the world economy. Everything from social interactions and politics to business, health care, and education increasingly rely on digital connections, innovation, artificial intelligence, and advanced algorithms. Over the past year, the COVID-19 pandemic has only accelerated our digital dependence.

Study Results

Our Secure Future found that, “Women and other chronically marginalized groups have long been barred from shaping institutions. Today, they find themselves excluded from technology development and the governance frameworks that are shaping the future. A pervasive digital divide, particularly in the Global South, continues to inhibit women’s ability to design and use technology.” Research undertaken last year by FP Analytics showed that not one of the 111 data governance frameworks under development worldwide had meaningfully taken gender equality into account.

The study also found that:

	“Women are experiencing systemic bias and abuse in technology leadership, creation, and use, which plays out in both the digital and physical spaces.
	There is a lack of understanding of gender dynamics and their significance for the future of technology development. Businesses cannot afford to be gender-blind and lose the growing purchasing power of women consumers.
	When gender equality challenges are recognized, they are considered in specific sectors or issue contexts. This is creating siloed conversations and preventing coordinated advocacy and action. The focus is often on women as users of technology, rather than agents of change in improving or designing the digital ecosystem.
	Civil society and gender experts are absent from many of the influential processes and debates about the future of technology.”

Case Study | Dr. Timnit Gebru

This former staff research scientist and co-lead of a team that explored ethical and environmental implications of AI at Google was just one of the 1.6 percent Black women employees at the company. Google fired Gebru after she questioned why a paper her team produced was censored by Google’s leadership.

The team’s paper examined the implications of large-scale language models (LLMs), which are used to “train” essential AI products. It found that LLMs are difficult to evaluate and scrutinize because of their vast scope and, as a result, they created a risk of sexist, racist, and abusive language finding their way into the data. LLMs also were deficient in languages of many countries in the Global South with lower Internet access, and thus, a smaller digital footprint.

After backlash and challenges to Google’s credibility, on May 11, 2021 the head of its center for responsible AI — who is a woman and is black — said the company recognizes a ‘pervasive problem’ in Silicon Valley and announced that Google will double its team studying ethical AI in the coming years.

Practical Pointers and What You Can Do
  from The Urgent Case for Gender Equality in the Digital Age.

	BECOME MORE AWARE. Open your eyes to the impact of technology and its built-in biases. Read and study this issue.
	SUPPORT REFORM. Let your legislators know that you support reform. “A digital system that excludes women from leadership positions, creates gender-biased technology and discourages women’s participation in politics and the global economy calls out urgently for a broad remedy.” For example, there are 31 co-sponsors of the Algorithmic Accountability Act (HR 2231), a bill that would require companies to audit and correct race and gender bias in its algorithms of high-risk automated decision systems.
	ENCOURAGE STEM. Encourage more women and people from chronically marginalized groups to pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology Engineering, and Mathematics).
	HIRE A DIVERSE WORKFORCE.
	RECOGNIZE LEADERS. Help women and people from chronically marginalized groups get into technology leadership positions.

Summary

Technology has never been so important to the security and prosperity of our nation and world. We need leaders and technologists who represent our population. We need more women leading technology in the Federal government and in the business arena.

Upcoming Public Events

September 21, 2021. BoardBound Graduation. Theresa and other top-level women in the 2020 cohort group graduate from this year-long program which helps women attain board seats. Applications for the 2021 corporate cohort are closed. Consider applying for the 2022 cohort. Learn more.

September 23, 2021. Theresa speaks on “Conversation with Technology Leaders: Powering Up the New Economy through Technology and Inclusivity.” At the International Women’s Forum of Colorado Conference in partnership with our neighboring states of Arizona, Kansas, Missouri & New Mexico. Learn more and let me know, as I can register guests.

September 29, 2021. Join Theresa, who was a 2019 awardee, at the Girl Scouts of Colorado “Women of Distinction” gala picnic. It honors top women leaders in our community. Reception at 5:30 PM. Program begins at 6:30 PM. Outside at the Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St. Denver. Learn more.

Theresa M. Szczurek, Ph.D.
C-Level Global Executive, Corporate Director, and Colorado CIO of the Year

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