‘Black Girls Code’ and Technology for Black Girls – Equality in the fields of science and technology remains a major challenge, especially for Black women.
In the United States, data shows that only 2% of the STEM workforce is made up of African American women. Even in the business world, only two Fortune 500 companies have Black female CEOs.
The Founding of the ‘Black Girls Code’ Organization
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in STEM fields are growing at a rate up to four times faster than other jobs. This means that very few African American women are reaping the significant benefits of this industry.
It was this situation that led to the formation of BGC, or Black Girls Code. The organization aims to transform the tech industry into a more inclusive one.
Cristina Jones, the head of BGC, emphasizes the importance of changing the perception that technology is a field unsuitable for Black women.
Objectives and Methods of BGC
In general, BGC has the following objectives.
- Introducing computer programming to Black women.
- Building Black women’s skills and interest in the tech industry.
- Creating a supportive community.
- Providing role models for Black women.
- Promoting equality in the tech field.
With these goals in mind, one of the strategies they often employ is linking technology to fun activities such as music, sports, and gaming.
BGC has also partnered with various well-known brands such as Epic Games, the NBA, and Nike.
One of the programs resulting from these partnerships is called the Build a Beat Challenge, in which participants compete to create music using Python to win prizes and meet the artist Ciara.
Black Girls Code Isn’t Just About Sitting in Front of a Computer
Although its primary focus is the tech industry, BGC doesn’t want to limit its interactions to the virtual world.
That’s why, in addition to organizing regular competitions, they also routinely hold workshops, hackathons, and skills training sessions in various cities.
Since its founding in 2011, the organization has reached thousands of girls, from young children to adults.
Many of these women have now graduated from college and are “ready to take on the world” in the STEM field. Moreover, in addition to coding skills, BGC also provides leadership training, mental health support, and various other community-based activities.
Black Girls Code and Indonesian Women
Like Black women in the United States, women in Indonesia also face similar challenges in accessing education, including technology.
Many women in this country are actually talented and interested in STEM fields but are forced to abandon their aspirations due to limited access and resources.
The emergence of organizations like BGC can actually be a source of inspiration in its own right.
Through this organization, Indonesian women can:
1. Learning to Build Self-Confidence
Many Indonesian women feel that the world of coding and technology in general is a man’s world. Even though they are talented, they hold themselves back because of this misconception.
Inspired by BGC, Indonesian women can work on building their self-confidence so they no longer feel afraid to work in this field.
2. Making Coding Fun
Inspired by Black Girls Code, Indonesian women can also make coding fun.
For example, by combining coding with exercise, makeup, gaming, and even music. Indonesian women need to move beyond the perception that the tech world is a masculine one. There’s nothing wrong with adding a feminine touch to this field.
3. Helping One Another
A strong support system among women is also essential. This is especially true when addressing issues that are specifically related to women’s needs.
For example, how pregnant female programmers should balance their roles, how to address gender discrimination in the workplace, and how to create ideal role models.
Read Also: Maximize the Use of AI Technology (Such as ChatGPT) in Children’s Learning
Black Girls Code is an organization that promotes equality for Black women in the tech industry through education, training, and a supportive community.
In Indonesia, women can draw inspiration from this organization. For example, by boosting their self-confidence, making the world of coding more exciting, and building a community of fellow women to overcome various obstacles in this field.
That concludes our overview of Black Girls Code. We hope you found this helpful!
