A Global Network for Women in New Technology

At the start of last century, women and technology were worlds apart: early twentieth century technology was almost exclusively a male preserve. By the start of the 21st Century, that gap was closing fast. Today women make up about one third of the IT workforce worldwide; and while women have moved into technology, technology has moved into traditionally female domains: the kitchen, the home and the classroom. Yet the transition has happened through evolution rather than revolution.

DigitalEve’s global goal is to smooth this feminine ‘Digital Evolution’ to its final conclusion: to support, encourage and empower women to become fully integrated as top-level leaders, professionals, role models and mentors in their fields by use of new media and digital technology.

Meeting members’ needs is one side of DigitalEve’s vital two-fold role; the other is to promote general recognition of the importance of women’s involvement in technology.

How Does DigitalEve Japan Fit into This?

DigitalEve Japan provides a bilingual forum where women from Japan and abroad, working with or using IT in Japan, can

• enjoy networking, support each other through technological and other work-related problems,
• share skills, knowledge and information
• and inspire each other to higher levels of achievement and creativity.

Members’ network
DigitalEve Japan does this primarily through offering free membership of our email list on which members can ask practical ‘how-to’ questions, share research results and experience, alert other members to job opportunities and new developments in the field, and discuss issues relating to their digital lifestyles. Our quarterly on-line chats on a topical digital theme provide another chance for regular interaction.

Face-to-face networking occurs at our monthly social DigitalEVEnings, held on the 10th of the month, usually based around a digital or seasonal theme. For example, in summer 2001, we held a design competition for graphics to promote DigitalEve Japan; the winning graphics formed a gallery exhibition for our September DigitalEVEning, a gallery talk where contributors discussed their inspiration and how they created their graphics.

Information resource/education
To share skills and raise members’ professionalism, we also run monthly training DigitalEVEnts featuring low-cost, hands-on opportunities to learn new skills and explore cutting-edge technologies. These range from our 2-day workshop retreats in the Saitama mountains on themes such as web page design or digital video, to Saturday afternoon software workshops and seminars presented by experts in Tokyo. We are also involved in a joint mentoring project with DigitalEve UK through which members with higher level skills can teach, guide or support others.

Fulfilling a Crucial Need in Japan

A recent comparison of women in IT in 20 countries (including 2 East European countries and Korea) shows Japan right at the bottom of the league, with women representing only 17% of the IT workforce. At the top of the league, are the EU with 29% and the USA with 38%, well over double the figure for Japan. (additional statistics)

This suggests a critical under-utilization of female potential in an economy where, despite the current unemployment figures, the demand for IT high-level bilingual professionals still outstrips the supply.

By remaining outward looking, DigitalEve Japan aims to raise the profile of women in IT

• with employers, as a source of highly skilled professionals and leaders
• with girls, young women and second career seekers, as a viable and rewarding career option.

Promoting women in technology
To achieve this, DigitalEve Japan’s vision is to initiate projects in the wider society. These would include community outreach programs: for example, making skills training, career information, advice and support available to school girls, students, home-based women, senior citizens and disabled/hospitalized people; and providing advanced skills training and support for IT careerists. Our membership can provide many excellent role models who are experts in the fields of education, design, programming, marketing, leadership, finance and business.

We already network with like-minded women’s organizations and business associations in Tokyo. In September 2001, we presented a panel discussion hosted by the Association of Women in Finance on the theme Women in IT, which included a statistical overview, the perspectives of 5 professional women and a Q&A session. Through such activities and the publicity they attract, we are raising the profile of women in IT in Japan.

How the Media Can Help

Further Information

Chiharu Kawai media-j@digitalevejapan.org.

DigitalEve Japan: www.digitalevejapan.org
DigitalEve International: www.digitaleve.org