The world of programming is changing fast, very fast, and even more so now that new artificial intelligence tools are coming to facilitate the work of… well, of all of us.
But it is true that perhaps there is one aspect in which the programming sector, of technology in general, is not evolving as fast as it should: that of inclusion.
According to the National Observatory of Telecommunications and the Information Society, women represent around 20% of the total number of ICT specialists in Spain, a figure that drops to 10 or 11% if we talk about programmers or software architects.
There is still a lot of work to be done in terms of equality and Linda Cabrera, Data Analyst at EDUCA EDTECH Group and member of the R-Ladies community of women programmers, is well aware of this.
In the world of programming, everything is changing rapidly, especially with the advent of new artificial intelligence tools that make work easier for many.
However, there is one aspect in which the programming sector and technology in general is not evolving as fast as it should: inclusion and equality.
According to the National Observatory of Telecommunications and the Information Society, women represent around 20% of all ICT specialists in Spain, a figure that drops to 10-11% when it comes to programmers or software architects.
Clearly, there is still a lot of work to be done in terms of equality.
This is a reality well known to Linda Cabrera, data analyst at Educatech Group and member of the R Ladies community of women programmers.
Linda explains that R Ladies is a community that promotes gender diversity around the world.
It was created in 2012 thanks to the initiative of Gabriela de Queiroz, who, noticing that in most of the programming events she attended in the United States there was an overwhelming majority of men, decided to found the first R Ladies group in San Francisco.
Since then, the movement has grown to more than 140 chapters in 48 countries.
In Spain, there are active chapters in Madrid, Barcelona, and Bilbao, where a collaborative network of support is created among all participants.
The R Ladies group focuses on three main pillars: creating a safe space for all women, promoting the inclusion of all stakeholders, and fostering respect and patience in workshops and events.
Although anyone can attend these workshops, the speakers and organizers must be women.
Linda joined the group about three years ago, after finishing her master’s degree in mathematical research and deciding to immerse herself in data science.
For her, being part of R Ladies has meant dedicating weekly hours to organizing workshops and events, which she considers a valuable investment for her personal and professional growth.
Linda highlights that one of the biggest challenges facing the software and technology world is bridging the gender gap in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) areas.
Women are underrepresented in this field, which can lead to the creation of biased products and services due to a lack of diversity.
According to a UN study, the main cause of this gap is gender stereotypes instilled from an early age, such as the classic division between dolls and soccer balls.
These stereotypes affect people’s educational and career choices, perpetuating a vicious cycle.
To combat this problem, Linda suggests that it is critical to include boys and girls in activities such as robotics or programming clubs from an early age.
It is also crucial to provide them with female role models who demonstrate that it is possible to succeed in any field, regardless of gender.
At R Ladies, they encourage this type of inspiration through talks and conferences given by successful women in their respective fields.
While progress has been made in the quest for greater gender equality, there is still a long way to go.
Communities such as R Ladies, Women in Tech, PyLadies, and others are actively working to reduce the gender gap in technology.
Linda recognizes that in Spain there is still a long way to go and highlights that artificial intelligence has also influenced the R community, with the creation of AI tools and packages that have expanded the possibilities of using the R language in data analysis.
On artificial intelligence, Linda comments that while it may seem like a threat to certain jobs, it should actually be seen as a challenge.
AI tools still need human oversight, especially to avoid biases such as those that have been evident in facial recognition technologies.
While some jobs may become obsolete, new opportunities will be created as the technology advances.
In closing, Linda calls on parents of young girls to break down gender stereotypes and encourage their daughters to explore different areas, including STEM.
She also encourages women who are already in the programming world to join communities like R Ladies, where they will find a network of support and learning.
Her final message is clear: if you travel alone, you can get there faster, but if you travel together, you can get further.
Today’s society is facing major challenges that will certainly sound familiar: youth unemployment, declining access to and quality of public services, growing inequality and polarization of… well, practically everything… In this context, there are many who see technology as the solution to improve not only the economy of countries but society as a whole, and yes, to improve your daily life.
The COTEC Foundation, whose objective is to promote innovation as a driver of economic and social development, is engaged in this struggle. In other words, to put technology and innovation at the service of citizens. Today we have the pleasure of welcoming its CEO Jorge Barrero, science communicator and specialist in technology transfer for citizen participation.
In the smile of a child, of a girl, infinite possibilities are hidden; in the longing of her bright eyes await futures that we cannot even imagine today, and even less so in these times of uncertainty. Childhood is, for those of us who were lucky enough to live it happily, a refuge to which we always return and which we remember with affection and, why not, with a touch of nostalgia. But that happy childhood is not guaranteed, neither in the world nor, of course, in Spain. That is where the work of UNICEF comes in, possibly one of the best known agencies of the United Nations, which is concerned with defending the rights of children around the world.
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