Thursday 21-03-2024 - 08:00

Kez Palaty, BSc (Hons) Cyber Security and Digital Forensics student 

 

When it comes to women's history and progress towards equality, we've made much progress but the road ahead is still long. This Women’s History Month let's look at how far we've travelled while shining a light on the barriers that remain and the inspiring women continuing to break new ground. 

Just over a century ago, women in the UK were still being treated as second-class citizens without the right to vote or having a real voice in society. It took until 1928 for women to finally gain electoral equality at the ballot box after decades of struggle by the tireless suffrage movement. But even after achieving the hard-won right to vote, deeply ingrained sexism and discrimination were far from eradicated. 

Women had to keep fighting tooth and nail for what we take for granted today - basic rights like being allowed to inherit property, access higher education, and enter professions on equal terms as men. The women's liberation movement of the 1960s and 70s helped catalyse major social and legal changes, but gender barriers and inequality are still pervasive issues across all arenas in 2023. 

The gender pay gap is one glaring example of systemic discrimination that persists despite equal pay laws. Data shows women in the UK still earn around 15% less on average than their male counterparts doing the same work. But the disparities don't end there. Women also face a myriad of insidious, subtle biases and "unseen" barriers like being more frequently interrupted, overlooked for promotions, having to walk on eggshells to avoid being perceived as "difficult" for being assertive, and having to navigate impossible double standards regarding appearance, personality, and behaviour. 

These issues impact women in essentially every space and subculture, including unconventional scenes like hacking and cybersecurity. Yes, even in underground tech communities often seen as pure meritocracies, women have been excluded, belittled, discriminated against, and erased from historical records throughout the years. 

From unsung codebreaking heroes like Elizebeth Friedman who helped decrypt enemy communications during World War II, to phone phreaks like Patty Townsend who explored the frontend of hacking systems in the 1960s, women were there from the very start making pioneering contributions. Yet only relatively recently have modern powerhouses like Parisa Tabriz at Google, Dr. Tarah Wheeler, Lamo Heather, and others started gaining well-deserved recognition in cybersecurity. 

So, this Women's History Month, let's take a moment to reflect on just how far women have come in a relatively short period through perseverance and courage. From having virtually no rights to becoming leaders, innovators, and society-shapers in every arena. Yet we must also acknowledge that the march towards true equality is far from over. Pay gaps, double standards, biases, and barriers still exist widely. 

Only by empowering diverse voices, amplifying marginalized stories, and consciously opening more doors can we hope to finally break through those remaining glass ceilings. The women who've come before us proved real, lasting change is possible. By following their example and lifting each other up, an equitable future is within reach. 

We appreciate every student who collaborated with us in the past weeks letting us know what they would like from Women History Month. If you would like to be involved in these types of projects in the futures please join the Women Society at UKS through this link.