Invited Change Agents Panel
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Invited Change Agents Panel
Location: Salon VIII Presenters: Wafa AlMansoori (Bahrain), Zeinab Safar (Egypt), and Irina Khomeriki (Georgia)
Inaugurated in 2006, the Anita Borg Change Agent Award, supported by Turning Award winner Fran Allen, celebrates women from developing regions who work at the intersection of technology and gender. True change agents, the three winners this year exemplify positive technical role models in their countries and support efforts to increase women’s participation in technical fields. From grassroots efforts to multilateral campaigns, the 2007 awardees have developed creative and successful strategies to combat gender prejudices and unequal access to technical resources, while demonstrating that IT is a rewarding industry with unique opportunities for women. Please join this panel to not only celebrate the accomplishments of these women, but to gain a perspective on the benefits and challenges that technical women experience around the world – some universal, some specific. At a time when the forces of globalization shape technical education, innovation and outreach, come challenge the conventional notions of the “lat world” against the spikes and valleys that truly exist, while exchanging effective practices and ideas with the award winners.
The mission of ABI is to increase impact of women on all aspects of tech and increase impact of tech on women. How do you see yourself contributing to that?
Zeinab: First, thanks to ABI. As head of engineering have 2% female students. She is seeking women in other departs to do engineering work and encouraging them to take on projects that have significant impact. Her goals is "to encourage women to go into tech and to enourage women to design tech helpful for other women". As member of the Committee on Women and Tech in Asia, she supports research into the status of women in technology and engineering. Engineer has 20% women but 30% of them in IT sector.
She is involved in workshops to encourage girls to enroll in science and math and tech, interested in increasing the impact on women in training workshops---"about 60% of them got jobs in computer companies." Also helping provide IT training for women entrepreneurs, established the cleostore website for female entrepreneurs to sell work through.
Irina: Also, thanks to the organizers fo the conerence and to ABI. She is head of the Georgian branch of ISTC, the International Science and Technology Center that works with weapons scientists throughout Russia and the Commonwealth of Independent States. The ISTC encourages women to take non-traditional program paths.
"We know that science is the driving force fo the development, it can be the face of the deveopment. But we also know the dangers that can behind the development". The mission is directed towards security, against the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. They help weapons scientists to direct their talents towards improving their own countries and other peaceful directions. Provide "support basic and applied research to assist in the transition to market economy and solve national and internationl technical problems". The ISTC solicits information from scientific institutes and then provides financial support, encouraging foreign collaborators. Try to involve more and more women in these projects. "Now there are 50 [projects] and 29 are led by women."
Wafa: Thanks to ABI for the chance to be here and learn from you. She is from Bahrain which is a small island with the area of singapore and the population of less than one million. 80% of high school graduates end up at the single university. She is professor in electrical engineering. "It is kind of hard to convince women to come and study engineering. It is kind of hard to convince even men to come and study engineering." The country is not industrial, so it is a challenge to convince them that engineering can spread to marketing, business, etc. She was the only female in department when she joined, now they have three faculty out of 28 and one grad assistant.
Participation of women in the IT sector is better than in engineering. "The problem is not studying IT, the problem is working in the IT environment . . . they just don't stay in the IT sector. That is something to be studied and find out why."
She is a member of the Bahrain Society of Engineering and started a career day, trying to put female engineers as well as male in front so that female students can see successful females.
What unique opportunities does tech create for women in your regions and what are the barriers to access? What role do men need to play in the promotion of women in the IT field and will they?
Zeinab: Tech opens wide range of opportunities. In Asia the number of women in IT has increased. Average in Engineering is 24%. The IT sector is best, about 30%, the lowest is Mechanical Engineering, which has less than 2%. There are good opportunities for jobs in IT. IT in Egypt shows a lot of woman as leaders, for example the president and the vp of a/the major telecom company. Not as good in mechanical engineering. Still climbing, not like in the US.
First barrier - the high rate of illiteracy, especially among women. 30% of women vs 20% of men. Computer illiteracy as well. 2009 is the last year in Egypt's campaign to combat illiteracy. "Still it is really a big problem"
Second barrier - language. Most programs are in English, only now have programs for arabization. Perhaps this is a new research area. Communicating just through speaking would help a lot of women.
Social and cultural barriers. "Let us talk about fathers." Fathers might buy a boy a computer but not a girl. Even if a school is mixed, boys have better access to computers than girls.
The role of men: Men have to encourage "from the very beginning" their daughters to enroll in schools. Once they start, women tend to continue but "the most crucial part is the beginning of their lives." She would ask girls why they don't come to training, "they would say sometimes that their fathers wouldn't let them come." Once they get the girls into the schools and training problems, "we see no problem."
Irina: "Zeinab talks about my country. The same barriers are also in my country." Georgian language is not widely used in trianing. In homes computers are mostly used by the new generation.
Georgia is quite different not only from these countries but also from other neighbours. "Georgia is a traditional society . . . men's and women's duties are strictly divided." Women raise children and direct household. Men are main breadwinners and head of the household. "Regardless of the position of women at work, the main position at home is to be a mother and to be" in charge of housework.
In IT, most managerial positions held by men. Women "take the orders of men. The men are running the whole show and I think we regret [this] situation." Women prefer to work at home, so technology can play a role in allow telecommunication.
This is changing in the young generation and more in the big cities. The woman scientists are more experienced and don't have the same barriers.
Wafa: "It looks like it's the same . . . one major thing here. Most of Bahrain households are double income." Usually women have lower income, but they still have some power and some independence.
"Information is empowerment and within this time and within this age there are lots of resources for women" "They can go and they can help themselves for themselves, if they know how to access it" But outside of IT, women can be intimidated by technology. Penetration of internet access within household is low (?) and geared towards teenagers or younger rather than adults. Public education has only been around since 1918 for men and 1928 for women. Literacy is now about 98% in the younger generation (50 and below). "We should capitalize on it."
"What we want from men is . . . to change their state of mind and also to help." They have been dominant, so they have a responsibility to help. There aren't enough women for mentoring, so men should help with as mentors and changing the state of mind. And women are still creating "the social awareness fo the generation to come"
So many global events now . . . what do you personally think of the emphasis on engaging women in tech? What advice do you have for engaging women in technology?
Zeinab: The UN and ICT? and WISUS? have done a great job on strategies. "Now it is time for implementation." This requires a partnership between governments, the public and private sectors, non-governmental organizations and donors. "Yes, we have seen the action plan. We have also some experts who have helped . . . we need help from the government " to implement the plans and expert advice and promote what they are doing. Within the IntConf for Women is close to what ABI is doing. "Promoting woman to be trained and have IT experience" "Women will do something for women. They are the best to serve their sisters." "With the action plan we have from wisus" need funding and resources. "NGOs are important because they are the ones to reach out to woman all over the places."
"Still looking for soem policy . . . that make our work easier."
What ABI is doing is great but they need more publicity internationally. "Of course everything is published over the internet. But in our world not everybody is reading over the internet. But everybody is reading magazines." New York Times, Washington Post are being read around the world. Hope for more collaboration with ABI to together reach out to younge women.
Irina: ISTC try to engage. Problem with "shouty, noisy and smokey internet cafes" more in home. Georgia does not have much internet users. 3.75% Communication support programs are a really good opportunity. Collaboration is very important, getting information to people is very important at the time when you need it.
Wafa: Hard to get NGO support because it is a gulf country. But you have to know the priorities, "it is very hard to get money for supporting woman and empowering women" Not targetted so it is very hard to get information. That is where there canb e collaboration "To let people know in my country what exists beyond my country for them" Universities - a great place to communitcate iwth the new generation. "Know what is hapening and how they can spread their wings a little bit higher than they can spread them now." That is where ABI can help.
Given all you have learned and seen at GHC, what might you have done differently in your home region?
Zeinab: If i had known, "I would bring with me a student"
"I attend many conferences . . . but we are talking to each other. The professors . . . the leaders." The participation of such a wide range is important (students of all ages, leaders). "Iw ould always be sure to make young women participate with us in the conference" "Have to get more students in my conferences"
Irina: Most inspiring "is this supporting organization and space . ." Georgia is only started and "late?? of pracitcal skills" "Everything I have seen here and heard here is very important." You can read and get the information but "when you meet so inspiring women that I've met here and have the possiblity to speak to them tete a tete and know how they are engaging woman in the tech and how they are solving the barriers they have had during the whole of their lives is very important." "The experience that I take back in my country I hope that helps the woman in my country to see the projects from a different angle."
Wafa: "I would have looked for a mentor. I woldn't have tried to do it alone." Looked int he country, looked in the region, and if necessary abroad.
"Not just faster, but made it much more richer. Speed is not important"
Try to establish mentoring when she goes home.
"If you seek help it seems as if you are saying 'I can't do it' but that's not true."
Q: Struck by the similarities. Let's do international mentoring. Question for Irina: How have women scientists in your country refocused the direction of technology away from weapons?
A: Irina: ISTC is intergovernmental but working at the scientific level. [missed some]
Q: Arab students are at a disadvantage when applying to graduate school in the States because of the limited research opportunities at the undergraduate level. What can be done to compensate for this?
A: Zeinab - Students at Cairo university are regularly accepted at American schools. We direct students towards schools where there are already Egyptian students. The university makes sure master's students publish at least one paper so that they can do a PhD.
Wafa - Mostly students in Bahrain target Europe. Acceptance is not rare. When Bahrain University had a Master's program, student were required to write a paper from their thesis. Most students who apply have been accepted.
Q: The US is seeing a falling level of interest in IT. Studies are too mechanistic and jobs require long hours. Is it similar in other countries?
A: Zeinab - yes, but in spite of that IT is the number one choice. And they are getting good jobs. But not everyone continues because of the pace.
Wafa - the opposite. It is on the rise because IT services in the country and region are on the rise. Women leave jobs because of the demands of home. It is possible that information communication technology will make jobs more elastic and thus more appealing. To work in other areas of technology might require leaving the country (for opportunities), which girls are not able to do.
Irina - similar to Egypt. Half as many women as men as both students and profs. But websites are often created by women.
