Women in technology are a current reality of great importance and relevance to the global job market. When considering this topic, we can say that the inclusion of women in technology is crucial for more than one reason.
On this topic, we spoke with Shreeya Dhakal, a Natural Language Processing Scientist who is driven professionally by two passions: enhancing language technologies for low-resource languages and increasing the representation of Nepali women and marginalized communities in technology.
For the scientist, women have different experiences and needs than men when it comes to technology. “For example, voice assistants may have difficulty recognizing female voices as easily, or security applications may not consider features relevant to women’s safety concerns. Women on the design team can identify these gaps and ensure the technology caters to a broader audience,” she adds.
According to a 2019 Accenture study, closing the gender gap in the tech workforce could add $1 billion to the US GDP by 2028. “This means significant economic potential for a more inclusive tech industry,” said Shreeya.
The importance of women in the tech market does not stop there. Algorithmic bias is a real concern in Artificial Intelligence (AI). “Studies show that AI systems trained on non-diverse datasets can perpetuate gender stereotypes. Women on the development team can identify potential biases in the data and training algorithms, leading to fairer AI,” the scientist concludes.
Daily Challenges for Women
The challenges faced by women are daily, but the rewards also come. Shreeya is an example of this. For her efforts in applied science and the community, she was recognized in the “ApplaudHer Awards: 100 Technologists to Watch 2023” by Women Who Code, a global community with over 300,000 tech enthusiasts. Today, she is also a community leader at AnitaB.org, working to help women and non-binary technologists succeed.
In 2020, she was recognized as a finalist in the Women in Science Award by the Nepal Astronomical Society. Last year, during her visit to the country, she addressed the Nepali youth from all 77 districts at the Nepal Youth Conference, reaffirming her passion for creating opportunities for young people.
Despite seeing progress, challenges remain. Shreeya explains that one such difficulty is the lack of representation, as women are significantly outnumbered in tech fields, especially in leadership positions.
“This lack of visibility makes it hard to find mentors and role models and can perpetuate the stereotype that technology is a ‘man’s world.’ One of the reasons I started Nepali Women+ in Computing – CELEBRATE is to address this lack of representation and provide role models to younger generations of girls in Nepal,” said the expert.
On this topic, Shreeya also points out unequal pay and promotions. “Studies show that women in tech often earn less than their male counterparts for the same jobs. They may also face more difficulties getting promoted to leadership positions,” she adds.
Working for a Better Future
All women hope the future holds good news. On this, the scientist lists some strategies that can be employed to change the current scenario and dream of an even better future. “We need to encourage women to pursue education, promote a culture of inclusion, and even offer flexible work arrangements,” said Shreeya.
“I believe women can shine in all areas of technology. However, I personally would love to see more women in AI. As we rapidly grow and adopt AI in all parts of technology, it’s crucial to ensure this powerful tool is developed with fairness and inclusion in mind. Women’s perspectives and experiences are vital to shaping AI that reflects the diversity of the real world and avoids perpetuating biases. Their contributions can lead to the development of more responsible and beneficial AI for everyone,” the scientist concludes.
Author: Vinicius Alonso
