In Today’s News: “Young women who want an education will not be stopped.”
On April 12th 2021, Bangladesh made history as Team Bangladesh dominated the European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad. The team swept the competition and won both the silver and bronze medals at the 10th Anniversary of the Olympiad. The group consisted of Nujhat Ahmed Disha of Viqarunnisa Noon School, Arifa Alam of Kamrunnesa Government Girls’ High School, Tikatuli, Dhaka and Safa Tasnim of Government PN Girls’ High School, Rajshahi. As the Olympiad hosted 55 countries, with 213 individual female mathematicians, the victory is no small feat. It is a clear demonstration that Bangladeshi girls have the power to make a difference in history.
It is common knowledge that Bangladesh is reaching greater heights in gender parity in education. However, unfortunately, there are still barriers to their fulfilment and empowerment. As we face an abundance of challenges across society, women in science and technology are instrumental in confronting them. It is well known that the fastest-growing occupations exist within the STEM field. Yet, women in STEM face stiff competition and challenges every day. The conflict stems from their childhood and remains in their adult life. We have witnessed a severe lack of motivation, self-confidence, and underrepresented women in leadership roles from a young age. This has culminated in severe systemic problems and continuous barriers to women’s empowerment.
The South-Asian community knows this to be an ongoing issue in the gender inequality space. The Mai Soli Foundation observed this to be the case when researching the root causes of child marriage and gender inequality as a whole. As a consequence, we curated a curriculum that confronts these problems head-on. In our unique approach to gender inequality, we dug to the root of the cause. We recognized that a more holistic program was required. Our program, and its integrated curriculum, intentionally empowers young girls to pursue leadership positions. As mentioned, it is uncommon for Bangladeshi girls to see female role models in their everyday lives. So, it was important for our initiative to be spearheaded by female mentors. Therefore, our mentors could be a guiding spirit in showing young girls what a healthy, free and independent life can be.
We must create a catalyst in breaking the generational cycles —the cycles of young girls never fulfilling their desired potential. Nevertheless, Mai Soli is part of a greater mission. So, we wanted to celebrate Bangladeshi change-makers who have shaken up the world and paved the way for their successors.
Dr Nova Ahmed graduated from the University of Dhaka with a BSc in Computer Science. She was the only female faculty member of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at North South University in 2011. She now serves as the Associate Professor at NSU. As a woman with a wealth of experience and knowledge, her mission is to solve problems in Bangladesh through low-cost and feasible avenues. Dr Ahmed had diversified her expertise in many social causes, e.g. climate change, sexual assault and maternal psychological support. As a well-respected academic, she noted that female students were a minority in her classes. Even so, many of her female students were not encouraged to actively participate by other academics; a stark contrast to the treatment by her male counterparts. She observed that many of her female students tended to fail aptitude tests when applying for scientific occupations. These tests analyzed the psychology of the female applicants (e.g. mindset and wellbeing). It was common for female students to unknowingly self-sabotage because they were not confident in a sustainable work and family life balance.
As a consequence, Dr Ahmed acknowledged that psychological and familial support must be accessible for young women. Society must understand it is not an “either / or” situation. Women can willingly be mothers and thrive in their careers.
Dr Ahmed was driven by the blatant gender disparity in her classes, organizing the Ada Lovelace Celebration in Dhaka and founding the Women in Science Without Borders program in both South Africa and Egypt. These platforms opened up conversations about the challenges young girls and women in education faced, creating dynamic change and inspiring other academics to take charge.
Another shining example is Achia Khaleda Nila. She graduated from United International University with a BSc in Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) and an MSc in CSE from Daffodil International University, Bangladesh. On top of this, she was a junior software engineer at a multinational company in her second undergraduate year. Some may be alarmed by Nila’s accolades, but she noted female students in CSE were few and far between. In her own classroom, she was the only female student.
Girls are discouraged from pursuing challenging jobs in computer science and programming because they believe that they are not good enough and that such jobs are only meant for boys. These perceptions need to change.
- Achia Khaleda Nila
The barriers that limit young girls transmute from their childhood homes to their adult life in the professional sphere. Nila witnessed working women be openly discouraged from serious roles, stating that “hardcore programming was a no-go zone for them, which was shocking.” In whichever position a working woman possesses, the lack of recognition and promotion was inescapable. Thus, leading to women only qualifying for low-paying CSE jobs or resigning from the workforce entirely.
Nila is a breath of fresh air in the scientific community. She is fully aware of the power she holds in her senior position and utilises her impact to elevate other women. As the founder of Women in Digital (WID), her social enterprise facilitates female creators to showcase their work on digital platforms and reach their desired audience. In a similar vein to our Mai Soli mentors, Nila’s social enterprise lets young girls’ see themselves represented in their dream career. Therefore, opening an abundance of opportunities for women. Nila shows us that through women supporting women, we create these opportunities. To date, WID successfully trained over 5,000 women for jobs in computer and technology.
It is no secret that education is vital for levelling the playing field for women. Nevertheless, it goes further than that. There is a stereotype that young girls and women are fragile and could not thrive in competitive industries. This stereotype is only sustained by the disempowerment of young girls starting early in their childhood.
Suppose a young girl is consistently told that she cannot survive on her own; that she cannot survive in the real world or reach a position of power— she will believe it. We must enable young girls to prosper in any manner they choose. The Mai Soli curriculum equips young girls with a more holistic approach to their independence, through both inspirational mentors and collaborative lessons. As we empower them to know their innate worth, these young girls will have the resilience, determination and enthusiasm to shine.
Sources
Team Bangladesh wins silver, bronze at 2021 European Girls’ Mathematical Olympiad
Dr Nova Ahmed; Credentials, Research & Mission Purpose
