What I didn’t know then was that these toys, beyond entertaining me, were shaping my vision of the future. And I wasn’t the only one around me; my sister, my cousins, and friends played the same way. It was clear that, intentionally or not, they were telling us which paths to follow.
Girls historically grow up surrounded by messages and expectations that limit their options. We are taught that our ‘natural’ role is to be caregivers, while boys are encouraged into roles more associated with leading, innovating and providing. When we analyse these beliefs, we see that they not only influence our childhood, but also have a strong impact on our choice of career and how we imagine our future.
History has also played a part in this decision. For example, that Socrates had the guidance of a mentor, but her name was lost to oblivion; or that Marie Curie, the Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry, had to struggle at a time when scientific recognition fell almost exclusively on men, and it was quite difficult for her to be taken seriously. Over time, the achievements of countless women have been minimised, silenced or attributed to others. And unfortunately, this absence of role models is not only a problem of the past, but continues to have consequences in the present. If girls don’t see women in these spaces, how can they imagine themselves there? Because what you don’t see, you don’t dream about, and what you don’t dream about, you don’t choose. In conclusion, words create realities.
And this also has an impact on the early years of basic education, according to the study published by EsadeEcPol in Spain in 2024 ‘Women in STEM: From basic education to a career’. Its findings show that gender differences in STEM areas begin in primary education and are amplified throughout academic and professional careers. In other words, from the age of 10, according to the information and messages they receive from their environment, girls show less self-confidence and greater anxiety towards mathematics, which affects their results and their interest in these disciplines. For example, in sixth form, they are less likely to choose subjects such as Physics or Technical Drawing, and at university their representation in STEM degrees is very low: just 36% in Mathematics, 27% in Physics, 23% in Telecommunications and 13% in Computer Science.
And when we review the global figures, they confirm this reality: only 28% of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEAM) professionals in the world are women. And in Latin America, the gap is still marked: only 3 out of 10 researchers in science and technology are women, and less than 20% of engineering students are women.
Fortunately, many companies are becoming aware of this problem and have implemented diversity strategies with a gender focus. And ultimately this is not just a question of fairness, but in reality it is a real competitive advantage with tangible benefits in the medium term. According to a report published by McKinsey, companies with more women in technical areas and leadership positions can outperform their competitors by up to 25%. And why is this? Because female talent brings new perspectives and visions, it is a view based on their consumer experience and it also enriches decision-making. And when we combine this diversity of thought, work teams become much more innovative and capable of providing more successful solutions.
There are currently women who are changing the discourse and turning the tables, demonstrating that talent has no gender. For example, Diana Trujillo, a Colombian aerospace engineer, has been key to NASA’s Perseverance mission and the exploration of Mars. Fei-Fei Li is one of the most renowned experts in the field of artificial intelligence, and her research has been the basis for the development of computer vision, especially in the creation of the ImageNet database, which has enabled great advances in learning.
Telefónica: Promoting the inclusion and talent of women in technology
And in the telecommunications sector we are not far behind, we also have great role models who are leading the way in this world where science is also for women. This is the case of Andrea Folgueiras, Global Director of Technology and Information (GCTIO) at Telefónica, with more than 30 years of experience, who has promoted innovation and digital strategy; while Elena Gil Lizasoain, an expert in Big Data and Artificial Intelligence, is in charge of implementing the data strategy in the same company.
Telefónica is also firmly committed to diversity, inclusion and gender equality in the technology sector. Its commitment is clear: to increase the participation of women in technical roles, especially in areas traditionally dominated by men, such as networks, telecommunications and infrastructure. Thanks to the Mujeres en Red (Women in Network) initiative, more than 1,000 women in Peru and Colombia are part of the transformation, accessing opportunities and demonstrating their talent in the installation and maintenance of networks, telecommunications engineering and digital security. This project has been recognised in different instances but the most recent was the ‘Pioneering Initiative’ award at the Latam Inclusive Tech Awards (LITA) 2024, an award given by Laboratoria.
However, the road to inclusion is long and there is much to be done. It is therefore necessary for more organisations in the technology sector to make this issue part of their agenda, to become genuinely involved in working to close the gender gap, to improve gender parity in technical areas and to be a source of inspiration for new generations with a clear discourse aimed at breaking down prejudices and stereotypes that are still prevalent.
Our world needs more women making decisions, as leaders but also more women in STEAM fields, not only because it is fair, but because it is smart. Talent has no gender.
