discrimination
Paus: Algorithms update gender stereotypes
Men and women are treated differently in many areas. This is also the case with algorithms. photo
© Sebastian Gollnow/dpa
Digitization should simplify people’s lives – actually. But according to Federal Family Minister Lisa Paus, some groups of people are disadvantaged by the technology.
Federal Minister for Family Affairs Lisa Paus has warned that digitization threatens to exacerbate inequality between men and women if there is no change in direction.
“Digital change is progressing rapidly worldwide and is changing our lives and our societies. Far too often, however, the female perspective is missing,” said the Green politician on the occasion of the 67th session of the UN Commission on Women’s Rights, for which she traveled to New York. The theme of this year’s session is “Innovation, Technological Change and Digital Education for Gender Equality”.
Paus does not consider digital technology to be neutral. “For example, the algorithms perpetuate gender stereotypes – to the detriment of women and other vulnerable groups,” says the politician. In addition, women in many countries have hardly any access to the Internet.
“Women and men should be able to benefit equally from digital change in their diversity,” says Paus. For this, digitization must be designed in a feminist way. The minister did not say what that should look like or who she sees as responsible for it.