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INTERNATIONAL

Q: How did you end up in the ICT these courses. Today the female share done some amazing work, studying
sector? studying this discipline is under 20 women's representation in the media.
When I was in graduate school stud- per cent in most countries. And that (http://seejane.org). Geena's motto
ying International Communications percentage is mirrored when we look is "if you can see it, you can be it" I
Policy, one of my professors who was at the ICT workforce where the aver- think that is definitely true. The goal
working at the US Department of age is around the same, and in many of the Institute's work is to improve
Commerce, introduced me to the As- cases much less. If we look specifical- gender balance, reduce stereotyping
sistant Secretary of the National Tel- ly at App development, the percent- and create diverse female characters
ecommunications and Information age is less than 10% of all apps being in the media industry. Previous re-
Administration (NTIA). She offered created by women. With low per- search looked in the women's roles in
me an internship, and that is where centages of women's representation films and the latest work dives deep-
it all began. After 6 months, I was of- in the sector, in some ways it is not a er, using an algorithm, into women's
fered a paid position as a policy ana- surprise that there are fewer women speaking time in films, television
lyst. I had the incredible opportunity in senior leadership positions in the shows and other media. Her work
to have a portfolio covering a diverse tech space. has shown that when women are por-
range of issues from international trayed in careers/positions in a posi-
satellite regulation, to telecommuni- When we look at technology users tive way, young women may choose
cations reform in Latin America, and in some countries, women are bigger to emulate them by taking studies in
more. While at NTIA, I covered the those areas. Look at medicine, law,
work of the ITU Development sector and criminal science for example.
which then led me to the ITU on a Se- "It's about
condment from the US government The second problem, linked to the
back in 1993. In 1994, I officially technology to first problem, is one of social impact,
joined the ITU Development Bureau or the human dimension. We, the
responsible for regulatory reform. advance know- tech industry, don't do a great job in
At that time, our goal was universal selling how technology can really im-
fixed line connectivity. Only 11% of ledge, access health pact positively our lives. It's not about
the global population was connected, technology for technologies sake. It's
mobile cellular had reached 1% and care services, edu- about technology to advance knowl-
Internet subscribers 0.3%. The focus edge, access health care services, ed-
of my work at the time was on mar- cation, and more." ucation, and more.
ket liberalisation (separation of posts
and telecom, privatization, and the Q: Who would you consider as your
introduction of competition). We mentor?
have come a long way since then, but users of new technologies than men. My father was my champion and
connectivity is still not universal. But globally there are fewer women my inspiration. He was a Pediatri-
with mobile phones and fewer wom- cian born to Polish immigrants who
Q: Do think it's more difficult being a en with Internet access than men. dedicated his over 50 year career to
woman in the IT and high-tech sec- children. He was passionate about
tor than in other sectors? Q: The trend speaks for itself. What medicine, science, and life in the
Definitely. The tech sector is very male do you consider as being the reasons oceans. Being the only daughter with
dominated. This is a problem that for these low figures? 3 brothers, my father made sure I
needs to be tackled on several fronts, I think the problem is two-fold. On knew I could be anything I wanted to
starting with getting more girls inter- the one hand, it's a perception prob- be. Nothing in his eyes was "just for
ested in STEM, and enabling them to lem. Many women and girls consider boys' or "just for girls' Working by
enter the tech workforce. tech is for men, or tech is for geeks. his side, as a summer job throughout
There are not enough role models out high school and college, he taught me
Q: How do you explain that? there. This is where the media indus- how the greatest reward in life was to
Partially because fewer and fewer try could be more helpful, by casting help others. Even though I didn't end
women are studying technology-re- more female characters in ICT posi- up as a medical doctor (something I
lated disciplines. If we think back to tions or ICT related jobs.
had once dreamed of), I did end up
when computer science first came in a field where the work that I do,
out in the 1980s and became a uni- Geena Davis, is our special envoy, and and the benefits that technology can
versity discipline, there was an equal her organization the Geena Davis In-
offer, will help people to have a bet-
share of both men and women taking stitute on Gender and the Media, have
ter life.

INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMAT - DIVA 9