The digital revolution is transforming industries and society at an unprecedented pace. To unlock its full potential, more women must be empowered to lead, innovate and champion equality, argues Nimisha Tailor, author of the forthcoming book, The Female Digital Revolution
“Unlike previous industrial revolutions, the scale, scope, and speed of the fourth industrial revolution is unprecedented. Technological breakthroughs and the increasing take up of digital tools is spurring the digital economy to continue expanding. Every industry from health, education and finance is being digitally transformed. The role of women is changing too, albeit at a slower rate. Women (just like men) are already using digital technologies to improve their daily lives but often the digital applications or devices are not adequately suited to them. The female digital revolution has only started but there are more opportunities for equality and equity.”
– Nimisha Tailor, The Female Digital Revolution
Many women are already ahead of the game in adopting digital tools, not only at work, but also in their free time and to optimise their daily life. For example, women are using technology to set up their own businesses from home, or developing apps that allow women to better manage their finances, health or save the environment. Other women are using various platforms to connect with like-minded women or search for jobs, especially after a career break, or learn something new while staying at home to look after children or elderly parents. Some are also forging their own careers in male-dominated areas such as esports or in data centres, while others are working on the next generation of technology, for example, in quantum computing. This is the Female Digital Revolution.
But, there are women who are missing out and there is scope for them to benefit so much more. In my book The Female Digital Revolution, I share that there is scope for women to seek better jobs, to innovate and create technology tailored to women, and to advocate for digital policies that protect women and girls from online harm. To maximise the benefits, we need women to be represented in all aspects of our economy where technology is involved—as digital leaders in our schools, hospitals, banks and businesses, and as policymakers designing digital regulations and digital literacy programmes. The wonderful thing is that women can choose how they show up and can apply their passion and strengths.
As an economist, I have worked in technology in some shape or form throughout my career, whether that has been analysing the competition landscape in ecommerce markets, developing policies for digital financial services or regulations for new technologies, or advising on how to allocate radio spectrum for digital services.
My intellectual curiosity has led me to seek to understand technology in fun and interesting ways. For example, working in government I learnt about mobile technology by acquiring knowledge from my engineering colleagues and going on site visits to base stations. Through volunteering I have been leading the AI and Humanity webinar series at the Asia Institute of Mentoring in Singapore where I have had the opportunity to question tech entrepreneurs in the areas of climate tech, edutech and fintech, as well as digital experts in government.
Nimisha Tailor
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