The 4.0 revolution is a good opportunity to promote gender equality.

In an interview with a reporter from PNVN newspaper, Ms. Nguyen Thi Kieu Quyen, Women in Tech Ambassador in Vietnam, Vice President of the Vietnam Digital Technology Alliance, and President and CEO of SHAREWORK Joint Stock Company, stated that, considering both natural and practical factors, women's capabilities are not inferior to those of men in the field of technology.

PV: Many statistics show that the percentage of women working in the technology sector is still low. In your opinion, what are the consequences of gender inequality in this field?

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kieu Quyen: On an international level, although governments and organizations have many policies and programs aimed at narrowing the gender gap in the technology industry, in reality, women are still facing many challenges, from participating in the workforce to holding leadership and management positions.

According to statistics from the International Labour Organization (ILO), the proportion of women in the Science , Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields is only 25%. In Vietnam, this rate is higher than the world average but still only reaches about 35%.

In particular, women are less frequently appointed to leadership positions and are often paid less than men for the same jobs.

This situation has several negative consequences. First, the low percentage of female workers leads to a lack of diversity in the development of technology products and services.

Many technology products and services fail to meet the needs and characteristics of women and do not encompass diverse perspectives in society. Furthermore, women are less often given leadership positions, limiting their opportunities to create policies that narrow the gender gap.

Due to societal prejudices and the aforementioned realities, many girls face gender stereotypes regarding careers. While society encourages boys to pursue STEM fields, girls receive less such encouragement.

The fact that women are rarely given leadership roles also means that society lacks role models to inspire young women to enter the technology industry.

PV: As someone who has worked in this field for many years, in your opinion, are women at a disadvantage compared to men when it comes to technology-related fields, considering their natural abilities?

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Ms. Nguyen Thi Kieu Quyen: I haven't seen any scientific research proving that women are inferior to men in the field of technology. On a general level, men and women have the same ability to receive and process information, solve problems, as well as the ability to create and develop technology.

The scientific and technological revolution presents a great opportunity for women to assert their role, not only in their work and lives but also in the progress of humanity. Women need to believe in their abilities, persevere in pursuing their passions and career goals. When faced with opposition or underestimation, they need to focus on proving their worth through genuine competence.”

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kieu Quyen, Women in Tech Ambassador in Vietnam, Vice President of the Vietnam Digital Technology Alliance, and President and CEO of SHAREWORK Joint Stock Company.

Any differences, if any, are primarily due to social factors and how each gender is raised and educated. In fact, many women excel in STEM fields. The only problem is that they often receive less recognition or have fewer opportunities for career advancement compared to men.

Women are in no way inferior to men when it comes to adopting and applying technology to their daily lives. In fact, women are increasingly gaining dominance in using social media platforms and online tools to build communities, disseminate information, and even develop online businesses.

Interviewer: In your opinion, what opportunities does the current scientific and technological revolution offer women? And what should women do to seize these opportunities?

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kieu Quyen : In the age of technology and the digital economy, intelligence and soft skills play a decisive role, giving women many opportunities in both their careers and personal lives. Technology is also the foundation and "key" to eliminating gender inequality.

However, to achieve this, women need to be aware of and overcome certain barriers, and they also need to receive a lot of support.

The Women in Tech organization has previously held several workshops on how to help women overcome these barriers, which we call "glass ceilings."

The conclusions from those workshops suggest that, to take advantage of this opportunity, women need to seek out strong support networks, including mentors, organizations that support women in technology, and online communities.

PV: Based on the experiences of countries with developed science and technology, what policies should we design to unleash the potential and enhance the role of women in this process?

Ms. Nguyen Thi Kieu Quyen: Countries with developed science and technology all have policies aimed at promoting the potential of women in the field of technology. In the US, Canada, and Nordic countries such as Sweden, Finland, and Norway, there are many policies and organizations that encourage women to participate in STEM fields from their high school years.

The Israeli government has many policies to support women entrepreneurs in the technology sector, even having a dedicated investment fund for female entrepreneurs. Similarly, in France, Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron is the patron of the non-profit organization Women In Tech, for which I am currently an ambassador in Vietnam.

Technology companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft have implemented programs to create equal opportunities for women and encourage them in the technology field.

As a country that is actively promoting the application of science and technology in many areas of life, I believe that Vietnam should soon design a comprehensive policy to eliminate gender inequality and unleash the potential of women in science and technology.

If these policies are implemented effectively, the nation's technological capacity will increase significantly. Furthermore, this is also an important solution to promote gender equality, helping Vietnam achieve sustainable development in line with the United Nations' guidelines.

PV: Thank you!

Women in Tech is a non-profit organization sponsored by the French government, aiming to promote and support women's participation in the technology sector. Currently, the organization operates in 60 countries. In Vietnam, Women in Tech focuses on the following activities: organizing training courses; collaborating with companies and educational institutions to provide scholarships for female students and career opportunities in technology; connecting women with domestic and international technology experts and organizations; connecting industry experts and leaders with promising young women to help them develop their careers and access higher-level career opportunities; and organizing events, forums, and conferences to raise awareness of gender equality in the technology industry, sharing success stories to inspire and encourage women to participate in the technology sector.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/cach-mang-40-la-co-hoi-tot-de-thuc-day-binh-dang-gioi-20250122161025812.htm