Hey Bay area health and cyber friends, let’s chat about the current situation with cyber security and gender diversity. Ain’t it baffling that women only hold a quarter of the global cyber security jobs? And the landscape gets even less diverse in senior leadership roles.
Unfortunately, this gender gap isn’t limited to the workforce – it bleeds over into the processes behind creating cyber laws, conducting research, and diplomatic operations. And it’s not just about the jobs. We need to discuss how the digital world in general is heavily influenced by gender dynamics. It’s disheartening to see that women are still underrepresented in this space, with an increasing number of them ending up as non-users of the internet and tech.
You see, how we each interact with the digital world can vary greatly based on several factors such as economic status, gender, age, race or ethnicity, and cultural norms. These factors ultimately impact our ability to develop tech savviness and seek out related educational paths, including those that lead to a career in cybersecurity.
Internet and digital tech can be great tools for personal and community growth, offering opportunities for personal expression, education, political advocacy and more. Yet, in the same space, many face heightened vulnerability to online harassment, stalking, and discrimination. Advancements in AI only compound existing gender and racial biases, leading to more tech-facilitated gender violence.
Many see tech as a double-edged sword in terms of gender dynamics – sure, it provides chances to connect and carve out fresh opportunities, but it’s often used in ways that perpetuate inequality and discrimination.
The sad part is, you can often see existing societally-entrenched biases and prejudices reflected online, sometimes with even worse consequences. The rapid and often uncontrollable dissemination of harmful content can result in repeated victimization and re-traumatisation. And for many, justice seems a far-off dream, with legal systems struggling to keep up with the rapid development of new technologies.
This digital abuse isn’t just confined to everyday women, but also extends to female public figures, such as politicians or journalists. These women can find themselves on the receiving end of personal data manipulations or image-based abuse designed to undercut their influence and discourage participation in public life. As a result, many women are simply opting to withdraw from online platforms altogether, which deepens the digital divide.
But, here’s the silver lining. The voices pushing for a gender-sensitive perspective on cybersecurity policy are getting louder. For instance, imagine a “Women in Cyber” fellowship program at the UN that extends opportunities for women to work in cybersecurity diplomacy or governmental emergency response teams. It’s initiatives like these that are pivotal to fostering diversity in a dominantly male industry.
However, the journey towards diversity isn’t a one-way street. While increasing the representation of women in cybersecurity is crucial, we can’t overlook the unfair expectations placed on these pioneers. It’s unfair, and honestly, exhausting for these women to shoulder the heavy task of addressing gender-related issues while navigating the pressures of a high-stakes domain.
Ultimately, it’s not sufficient to merely increase the presence of women in cybersecurity. There needs to be a shared sense of responsibility towards addressing issues such as dissentious threats or the undue load placed on gender minorities to champion their own cause.
So, folks, it boils down to this: cybersecurity isn’t a one gender game. It’s high time that everyone takes a stand against gender-based inequality in tech. Together, let’s recognize that cybersecurity is a shared responsibility and that its potential as a tool to promote gender equality is huge – provided we approach it inclusively.
by Morgan Phisher | HEAL Security
