THINK PIECE 1 of I’d blush if I could, brings to light a paradox: Countries that are closest to achieving gender equality overall, such as those in Europe, have the fewest women pursuing the advanced skills needed for careers in the technology sector. Conversely, countries with low levels of gender equality, such as those in the Arab region, have the largest percentage of women pursuing advanced technology degrees. As an illustration, in Belgium only 6% of ICT graduates are women, while in the United Arab Emirates this figure is 58%. This paradox, observed here for the first time and explored in detail, underscores the need for measures to encourage women’s inclusion in digital skills education in all countries.
