Female representation: understand the importance of our voice

Historically, women were taught how to occupy private spaces, how to do household chores and take care of children, while public space was reserved for men. This inequality still persists in some cases, so being represented is a way of normalizing the presence of women in social environments and expanding the place of women’s speech. To speak about female representation is to speak in defense of a more egalitarian society, in the search for the guarantee of rights and in the creation of diversified female models that can serve as inspiration for other girls and women.

Check out data on female representation in politics and the job market, scientific inventions and achievements in the technological world, as well as women to be inspired by in cinema, TV and music. See also projects and initiatives to support.

Women in science and technology

For many centuries, access to science and technology was denied to women, and much of the construction of scientific thinking was attributed to men. Much has changed and now we have several academics presenting incredible projects and being recognized for their scientific achievements.

In addition, women who work with technology and information are conquering their space in the labor market and seeking equality in this area. Check out some data on female representation in science and technology:

Women in science and computing

According to the Higher Education Census, women represent 57.2% of students enrolled in undergraduate courses, a significant number if we consider that decades ago women did not have access to university in Brazil.

On the other hand, women represent only ¼ of the 520 thousand people who work with computers in the country. How is this explained? Technological researchers say that gender inequality contributes to women abandoning careers linked to science and technology.

It is necessary to fight the stigma that “mathematics and engineering are things for boys”, in addition to overcoming the disproportionate salary that women who work in IT (Information Technology) face.

Juliana Estradioto is the 1st Brazilian researcher to be awarded the Nobel Prize

Juliana Estradioto was the winner of the 2018 Young Scientists award and the first Brazilian scientist in history to be invited to the Nobel Prize ceremony. The 18-year-old student developed a biodegradable plastic film made from passion fruit peels. The project has already won him several awards in the scientific area and has been highlighted in national and international fairs.

Executive positions in the technology sectors

Although women are gaining more and more space in the area of ​​technology and information, we are still few in the job market compared to men. And in executive positions, the percentage is even lower. In Silicon Valley, for example, we represent just 11% of leadership positions.

On the other hand, there is still something to celebrate: according to a survey by LinkedIn, between 2008 and 2016, the number of women leaders in the technology sector increased by 18%.

3 women who revolutionized science and technology

1. Ada Lovelace: considered the first programmer in the world, Ada Lovelace was a mathematician who contributed to the development of the first calculation machine and is responsible for creating an algorithm to be processed by a machine. Her invention is still recognized today as the first computer and her notes were marked as the first software.
2. Marie Curie: The scientist is notable in the studies of radioactivity and was the first and only woman to win the Nobel Prize twice. Among her discoveries are the chemical elements radium and polonium. She is an inspiration to many students in the field of chemistry and science.
3. Hedy Lamarr: In addition to being a prominent actress in the 1940s, Hedy Lamarr is also responsible for inventing a jamming device used to intercept Nazi messages in World War II. This system is considered the basis of cellular telephony and also of wi-fi.

Initiatives for you to know, support and be part of

Discover some initiatives that support women scientists, promoting their work and highlighting female inventions. See also projects that encourage women in technology.

Although women have gained recognition for some scientific achievements and a certain space in the technological world, there is still a lot to be done to stop the area from being dominated by men. At least, there is the certainty that science and technology are indeed women’s things, and we already have many scientists to inspire us!

women in politics

The struggle of women in politics has been going on for over 100 years: from the suffragette movement, when British women won the right to vote, to the search for gender equality in the current elections. In Brazil, although they represent half of the population, women occupy only 10% of the Chamber of Deputies and 15% of the Senate.

Female representation in politics is important so that some issues are put up for discussion, such as domestic violence and family equality. The lack of female leaders also reflects on girls’ choices and on what is understood as a woman’s space and role, so a path is already being built in an attempt to change these negative statistics. Check out:

Saudi Arabian women win the right to vote

In many historical periods, women were considered the property of the father or husband, not being able to make decisions or assume positions. In 2015, Saudi Arabia allowed women to participate as voters and/or candidates in an election for the first time, representing a major step forward.

On the other hand, the number of registered voters in the country is still much lower than that of men and there are also very few female candidates, demonstrating the long way to go.

Record number of women elected to the US Congress

In 2018, the United States witnessed the highest number of women elected to Congress. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar were the first Muslim women to win the election in the country. Black, indigenous and Hispanic women were also elected, making the moment a milestone on the way to female representation.

Positive results in Brazilian elections

In Brazil, the inclusion of women in politics is recent: despite the fact that voting became mandatory in 1934, the first female president was only elected in 2011. In addition, a women’s bathroom was only opened in the Federal Senate in 2016. According to the TSE ( Superior Electoral Court), Brazil occupies the 154th position (out of 193 countries) in the ranking of female parliamentary participation.

Gradually, Brazil is watching this scenario change. The 2018 elections brought some positive numbers: 51% more women were elected to the Chamber, for a total of 77 women, and the percentage of women running for Congress was also higher than required by law. According to a survey by UN Women, 81% of Brazilians already understand the importance of the presence of women in spaces of power.

Representativeness at the polls

Electing women does not guarantee that equal rights will be established or that the necessary issues will be discussed, since not all women elected defend the same flags. When talking about representation, it is important to ensure that women who are different from each other find space to make their voices heard.

In 2018, Brazil advanced a little further in this regard by electing names such as Erica Malunguinho da Silva, the country’s first trans deputy; Joena Wapichana, the first indigenous woman to become a deputy; and Olívia Santana, Bahia’s first black congresswoman.

Initiatives for you to know, support and be part of

Women across the country are organizing to promote a more egalitarian policy and name those who are putting themselves at the forefront of the struggle. Check out some initiatives that discuss and encourage women in politics:

The battle cannot end here. The road to effective representation of women in the political arena is long, but every step matters. Publicizing the importance of women in power, giving strength to initiatives and candidates in your region and inspiring other girls to fight for their rights are some of the attitudes that can make a difference.

Women in the job market

The insertion of women in the labor market was an undeniable achievement. However, inequality of opportunity and recognition remains alarming. Performing the same function as a man, a woman still earns about 70% of her salary. This difference increases when the position requires a degree or when it comes to black women.

Recent data demonstrate a small change in this scenario. Women leaders, businesswomen and heads of their households are increasing in the country. Check out:

The number of micro-entrepreneurs in Brazil has doubled

Female entrepreneurship is growing in Brazil, especially when it comes to micro-enterprises. More than 7 million women have started a new business. Also, according to a Sebrae survey, women tend to build more solid and profitable companies, as they invest in training and have more access to information.

More women in leadership roles

Brazil is above the global average when it comes to women in leadership positions. The survey by the International Business Report (IBR) shows that 29% of Brazilian companies are headed by women. This number is still small compared to other data, as many women earn less even with the same qualification.

In addition to being beneficial to companies, a 2015 survey by the McKinsey Global Institute points out that equal opportunities and wages can bring profits to the country’s economy as a whole.

female-headed households

Many of the Brazilian households are now headed by women and, in some cases, they are the main source of support for families. This demonstrates that, little by little, women are conquering their financial independence. On the other hand, we cannot forget that many have a double workload, as they are still primarily responsible for domestic services.

The participation of black women in the labor market

With black women, discrimination is even greater. The average salary is not half that of a white man, in addition to the fact that they occupy very few leadership positions. However, IBGE surveys reveal that the participation of black women in the labor market has increased in recent years. Between 2003 and 2010, the growth was almost 10%.

Initiatives for you to know, support and be part of

• women who inspire
• Indicate a Mine
• has exit
• Women Entrepreneur Network
• safe women

We would like to say that gender equality in the labor market is close to being achieved, but it is not that simple. Women are still devalued every day and have to face…