Alejandra joined CET Clubs at the beginning of this year as a facilitator. We tell you in her own words why she joined Chicas en Tecnología.
What is your profession?
Sociologist-Teacher.
Why did you join Chicas en Tecnología?
I was interested in being part of Chicas en la Tecnología the first time I read about the organization, it seemed to me an innovative proposal with impact to contribute to close the gender gap, that is, that teenage girls can begin to think about a profession because it allows participants to have a first experience related to a profession where women represent only a 15%, in our country that has a deficit of professionals in the careers of Engineering, Exact Sciences, among others. That is to say, this percentage would indicate that women do not think about this type of careers based on abstract, mathematical thinking. This happens because we live in a patriarchal society, and our life projects are conditioned and limited by the gender stereotypes that circulate through traditional stories, TV soap operas, songs we listen to, advertisements; mostly. So, a decision that would be individual and completely subjective, in reality, is being determined by a patriarchal cultural system that has the effect that women choose professions linked to the care of others, and / or that we can only have access to positions that are not hierarchical, where developing creativity is a privilege of the male gender and where important decisions are not taken by the female gender.
What is your role and what activities do you perform within Chicas en Tecnología?
Facilitator, accompaniment and follow-up of the Clubs' development.
What do you think is your value contribution to the organization's mission?
I believe that my contribution is to accompany fellow teachers who also bet on enabling a new experience to their adolescent female students, to open a path that can become a life project. .
Why do you think it is important to have more women in the technology entrepreneurial environment?
I think it is important that there are more women in the spaces that historically have been difficult for us to enter and/or remain in, spaces thought of as exclusively “masculine”. I think it would be important to have more women in these spaces because having access to a decent job (with a salary above the basic food basket, social security, vacations and sick leave, etc.) is a human right. It is a human right, and because women are as capable as men to develop and undertake. Public policies with a gender perspective are needed to (re)think the work environment while they are not present, civil society organizations are the ones who offer the alternative.
Do you want to tell us something else you think is valuable to inspire more Girls in Tech to join?
They will go through an experience that will show them a new part of the world related to technology and what they design will be a positive contribution to their community.
