Breaking through the silicon wall: gendered opportunities and risks of new technologies

Technology design and development has traditionally been characterized by a lack of attention to women’s priorities activities; analysis gendered impacts; the influence socio-cultural gender norms that position technology as male pursuit. Advances are seen, but progress continues be slow. For example, women highly-represented in biology globally, participation drops significantly computational biology, digital gaps ownership information communication skills persist. The term “silicon wall” calls constraints faced under-represented groups design, implementation, appropriation new technology. At same time, acceleration technology-driven poses risks, form AI digital-based monetary systems, for example. These trends may reverse momentum equality empowerment through effects on labor force economic opportunities, health wellbeing, (lack of) financial inclusion. Steps need taken address gaps, constraints, opportunities penalize underrepresented groups, order break silicon wall. This article builds forthcoming UNCTAD report assess intersection technologies they intersect with gender, diversity workplace, development, understand risks innovation implementation technologies.