Press Releases

Lemesos

First and foremost, I warmly congratulate Techisland for taking the initiative to organize this very important event and I thank you for the invitation to open it. It is, indeed, true that such initiatives confirm our common concern, but also our common aim, in that we must step up and take all necessary measures in order to eliminate the gender gap in the IT and in the STEAM sector and find those tools necessary to promote more women in this field.

The field of information technology is one of the most dynamic fields that is constantly evolving, and is significantly affecting our daily lives: the way we live, the way we work and they way we communicate. However, it is true that the gender gap in IT is narrowing but not nearly as fast as it should. Tech companies have a long way to go for gender equal representation on all levels, including leadership positions. 

The current landscape demands better representation. As our lives become increasingly intertwined with technology, the gaps in representation become increasingly apparent. Case in point, an example that I always use: early developments of vehicle air bags were tailored for male bodies, which resulted in avoidable loss of lives among women in car crashes.

That is one example among countless, and the takeaway is clear: Women need space and a voice in the technological advancements of today and tomorrow.

Increasing representation is not only about making the world safer and friendlier for all. Equal representation also brings diversity of perspective to business decisions, which is, unquestionably, a competitive advantage and of course it can have an equal impact on the different needs of women and men.

According to the European Institute of Gender Equality (EIGE- 2019) and I quote: “Fewer women (4 %) than men (27 %) work in STEM occupations. In general, proportions of both women and men working in STEM occupations in Cyprus are among the lowest in the EU”.

If we are to examine this from a critical gender perspective and as in most areas of life, one of the reasons for the existence of gender gap goes back to traditional, patriarchal stereotypes and social prejudices existing in our society which, in turn, prevents women from participating equally in all spectrums of life, including the IT sector. To deconstruct stereotypes we must start from education and push girls as we push boys into these professions. We must do so, and base our efforts on their skills and not on our personal stereotypes and conscious or unconscious biases. The idea but also the fact that IT is a field dominated by males must be dispelled.

Women have been contributing as much as men in this industry for years but this was never celebrated or acknowledged. How many of us are aware of the fact that during World War II women undertook numerous wartime jobs and one of these was to work as human computer calculating ballistics by hand so that the military could determine firing angles? Or that by the mid ’40’s, there were around 100 female mathematicians literally performing the function of calculating relentless trajectory calculations by hand. Or that the Bletchley Park codebreaking operation during WWII consisted of nearly 10, 000 people out of which 75% were women. Yet, these women were never formally recognized as analysts as their male counterparts were, and they were asked to describe their job as secretarial. The examples are many - the message is one: We must recognize their achievements and encourage more women to follow in their footsteps. Women and men must know herstory too. If we do not acknowledge women’s participation, then we lack role models and, as we know, “you can’t be what you can’t see”. We should encourage young women to follow professional careers in STEAM by providing them with the appropriate guidance as well as the necessary support.

In 2025, the European Union expects the demand for STEAM professionals to increase by 8%, which is much higher than the average need for professionals in other fields. Therefore, the participation of both women and men is necessary in the STEAM fields.

Gender Equality in all areas of life is high on the political agenda of the Government.

As we have identified all the gaps mentioned, with the initiative of my office and in collaboration with Cyprus State Scholarships Foundation, President Christodoulides, announced the institutionalization of ten (10) scholarships for undergraduate studies to women aged 30+, who for different reasons did not have the opportunity to study earlier. The scholarships for this year will be given to women who wish to study in the field of innovation and technology.

At the same time, we are planning the implementation of a series of actions in relation to women and technology. More specifically, in order to raise awareness, we plan an online campaign where every month we will be presenting a role model and/ or a success story of women in the field. In our effort to work holistically, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education we are designing and planning a series of trainings for educators and career advisors on gender related issues. The aim is to deconstruct unconscious biases that many times work in such ways guiding girls and boys into occupations based on stereotypes and into the so-called traditional women and men’s professions.

Having said all the above, I would like to underline that we must not forget that there are many fellow citizens of us who are computer and technology illiterate. It is our duty as state that we go to them, that we train them.

Towards this direction and targeting women in rural areas, I call on you experts on the issue to help us in training them. I cannot emphasize enough the importance of cooperation between state, private sector and civil society in order to create a supportive and inclusive workplace, culture and environment that promotes gender equality. It is essential to unlock the full potential of women and men in the IT and create a better future for all.

(EP/SCH)