Page 31 - SAMENA Trends - February-March 2021

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

• The global internet user gap is continue to impact children at later
17% stages in their lives. It has been
• If 600 million more women were studied that children’s choices to
connected to the internet over enter STEM start as early as 3-5
the next three years, global GDP years of age. By the ages of 6-10
would rise between US$13 billion years, girls start developing the
and US$18 billion notion that boys are better in math,
which is not the case, as analyses
Literacy and STEM Education show girls and boys in fact perform
As the number of girls gaining an the same. Another stereotype that
education increases, disparities starts to emerge during this time is
associated with access to that males innately succeed in the
opportunities, quality and topics field of STEM. These stereotypes
they choose to study becomes more continue to manifest throughout the
evident. It is imperative for girls to course of women’s education and
further develop themselves in STEM career.
education, as careers in these areas
are seen as the jobs of the future, Innovation in STEM
driving innovation, social well-being, STEM plays a key role in creating
inclusive growth, and sustainable innovative tools to address global
development. Zain Bahrain’s challenges that our world faces.
Girls for Tech Camp, for example, It has been proven that diversity
was launched in partnership with in teams drives transformation
the Kingdom’s Supreme Council as it brings about new ideas and
for Women and Clever Play, an perspectives. As men and women
organization that aims to inspire have different life experiences that
children’s curiosity and passion for lead to varied perspectives, such
STEM. Established in October 2019, diversity in viewpoints triggers those led by males during these times of COVID-19. In
the program equips girls between creativity and improves results. addition, only 41% of women-led households claimed
ages 8 and 13 years with 10 hours Merging STEM and diversity creates that their children had access to online websites
of training in coding, and targets phenomenal growth opportunities. created by ministries of education that supported the
training 1,000 girls. In 2019-2020, continuation of learning in comparison to 56% of male-
1,000 girls completed the program. Developing STEM Skills to Achieve led households.In addition to learning inequalities, the
Financial Inclusion increase of violence during lockdowns is extremely
Employment Equality Technology and digital services are alarming as females are left vulnerable to dire situations.
Women are underrepresented in seen as tools that can be used to Digital advancements such as instant messaging with
the technology sector and even enable development. When used to geolocation functions, domestic abuse hotlines, and
though large strides have been progress development, technology disguised apps that provide discreet information for
made in STEM education, it has not can be extremely transformational survivors in case their abusers continue to track them,
translated into employment. Studies and improve social and economic can play a pivotal role in saving the lives of women.
have shown that even though outcomes. Such tools could also
countries have largely invested in be used to improve distribution in 'Choose To Challenge' is this year’s theme for
improving girls’ education including addition to promoting inclusivity, International Women’s Day
STEM education, cultural and increasing accessibility and Marked annually on March 8th, International Women's
societal constraints have hindered allocating resources. With that being Day (IWD) is a global day celebrating the social, economic,
this needed transition, impacting said, it is important for marginalized cultural and political achievements of women. The day
societies in a dramatic manner. This and disadvantaged segments to also marks a call to action for accelerating gender
gap in STEM employment prevents leverage tools that help elevate their parity. The campaign theme for International Women's
economies from reaching their standards of living and increase Day 2021 is 'Choose To Challenge'. A challenged world
full potential as it omits half of the their access to services. is an alert world. And from challenge comes change. So
population’s potential and talent to let's all #ChooseToChallenge.
contribute to the economy. COVID-19 and Women in Technology
A needs assessment conducted To reduce negative environmental impact, the Women
Gender Biases in STEM by UN agencies highlighted that in Technology - Bridging the Gender Gap in STEM Fields
Gender stereotypes in the context households led by women had report is only available online: https://zain.com/en/
of STEM start at an early age and less access to the internet than sustainability/thought-leadership-reports/ .

31 FEB-MAR 2021