By Tania Belen Gayosso Domínguez

CDMX Youth Advisory Group/
Global Opportunity Youth Network (GOYN)

Technology and its technological advances play a fundamental role in our daily lives, as it is increasingly common for there to be a tool or product that makes a certain task easier for us. But do you know who was the first person to write an algorithm? Do you know the name of the person whose work allowed the development of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth? And what about the person who created the first flight reservation system?

All of these people, who left a mark on the path of technology, were women: Ada Lovelace, Hedy Lemarr and Evelyn Berezin.

Ada Lovelace, born in 1815, is known as the first programmer. Hedy Lemarr, born in 1914, was a renowned actress and telecommunications engineer who laid the groundwork for the technology used in mobile networks, Bluetooth devices, and Wi-Fi. Evelyn Berezin, born in 1925, was an engineer who developed the first word processor and an airline reservation system.

These are just three examples of the many women who have existed and who have collaborated in the construction of an innovative and interconnected world and who, without their inventions and contributions, our reality would be very different, except that their work is often little visible and that has happened throughout history.

Currently, according to data from the Center for Economic and Budgetary Research (CIEP), in Mexico, until 2023, there were 3.6 million jobs related to the area of science and technology, of which 87.1% are occupied by men and 12.9% by women. These figures are evidence of a latent inequality, which has its origins in gender prejudices and roles, as well as lack of representation.

The fact that women do not occupy spaces in science and technology has nothing to do with the fact that our capacity and intelligence is less than that of men, nor does it have anything to do with the fact that we are not interested; there are more complex problems and structures that are intertwined in this situation, for example, inequality, the gender gap, prejudices, sexism and the lack of representation, which permeates the educational, social and work spheres.

Women who decide to embark on a career in science and technology often find themselves in learning spaces dominated by men and their own relationship dynamics, which creates a non-inclusive and often hostile environment. This is compounded by the absence of mentors or role models, because women leaders are rarely shown, as more focus is given to men, which results in a low representation of women in certain areas.

One of the responses to these situations that make it impossible for women to enter, grow and remain in technology is to create comprehensive programs and policies, but we are still far from that. But not all is lost, because women have chosen to build spaces and communities that allow us to have encouragement and guidance to chart our path through technology.

And it is at this point that I want to acknowledge that the power of women in technology lies in the community, because as Jaqueline García would say: “Nothing is an individual achievement when you are the result of a collective effort.” The fact that women are increasingly present in science, engineering and technology is thanks to the inspiration of those women who dared to do it first, to think out loud, to develop their ideas, to create something new. It is thanks to the struggle to break down gender gaps and prejudices. It is thanks to all the women who have promoted initiatives that train women in technological skills and abilities. And with this I do not want to romanticize the idea of community, but to make visible that much of the ground gained in these areas of science, engineering and technology has been, to a large extent, thanks to the efforts and commitments of other women.

It is important to be clear that a world where women occupy spaces in the development of science and technology is a world that will have a broader and more inclusive perspective of the problems that need to be solved. Therefore, and with special affection and emphasis for all the women who are reading these lines: I invite you to occupy spaces, to lead and create the future we want, because we cannot allow the future to be built without us. Let no one tell us that we cannot, no one in society and not even our minds. In a world that wants us as spectators, it is necessary to dare to be protagonists of innovation and change.