#GirlsInICT #DigitalDivide #TechWithoutWomen #STEMForAll #InclusiveInnovation
Girls are missing from the future of tech – and is anyone sounding the alarm loud enough?
On April 24, 2025, the world observes International Girls in ICT Day under the urgent theme: “Girls in ICTs: Bridging ALL Divides for an Inclusive Digital Transformation”. But beyond the hashtags and hashtags lies a sobering reality: while digital transformation accelerates, half the population is still being left behind.
Women make up half the world – So, why are they missing in Tech?
Despite decades of advocacy, women represent only 25% of tech roles globally. In some of the fastest-growing fields – like DevOps and cloud computing, female representation is even lower. The gender divide in STEM isn’t just a numbers game; it’s a crisis of opportunity, innovation & equity.
Why aren’t more girls pursuing ICT careers?
From early schooling, girls are subtly discouraged from tech paths. Stereotypes, lack of mentors, and deeply embedded gender norms push them out before they even start. In fact, only 20% of computer science degree holders are women, and that number drops sharply in developing countries.
Yet, the global economy is digital. Every business is now a tech business. Every solution to climate change, healthcare, education, and social justice demands digital fluency. If girls aren’t included now, they won’t just miss jobs – they’ll miss the power to shape the future.
Tech is not gender-neutral. It reflects who builds it.
AI, automation, and digital tools are rapidly reimagining & rewriting the rules of society. If women aren’t at the table coding, leading, and creating, then the systems we use will continue to reflect male-dominated perspectives. Imagine a world designed without your voice – because that’s the world being built today.
One of the most concerning statistics is that women make up only 25% of total tech positions, as reported by Forbes and the National Center for Women and Information Technology. Another report by McKinsey projects a decline of women in tech roles in Europe to 21% by 2027, highlighting that while the representation of women in tech companies is reaching parity, the share of women in actual tech roles is much lower.
Continued efforts to promote gender equality in the tech industry, especially among entrepreneurs and within start-ups, are crucial for creating a more inclusive and prosperous industry as well as contributing to a more diverse and innovative future.
Girls in ICT Day isn’t about inspiration alone – it’s about disruption.
We must demand radical change. From rewriting school curriculums to funding women-led tech startups, from pushing for female keynote speakers in tech conferences to mandating inclusive hiring in ICT sectors – this is a full-system overhaul.
Girls don’t lack talent – they lack access, role models, and belief systems that tell them they belong. On this day, professionals of all genders must step up to mentor, train, and amplify young women dreaming of a tech career. It’s time we build a digital world that reflects the entire world.
Because here’s the truth: the digital revolution cannot be inclusive without girls.
And if we continue to ignore that, we’re not just failing them – we’re failing the future.
Avtar Madan
Himanshu
Shree Lahiri
