Welcoming International Women's Day, Google is calling for the #YukBukaSuara campaign aimed at supporting gender equality. Based on a report from Google on 'Towards Gender Equity Online' conducted in Indonesia and six other developing countries, it was found that many overlapping barriers prevent women from fully enjoying the benefits that the internet creates.
In the 'Virtual Press Briefing with Google #YukBukaSuara', Monday (7/2/2022), many women are still struggling to find relevant content on the internet. Moreover, there are still few inspiring female figures who 'fit' with local norms and culture on the internet, so they find it difficult to ask questions that are important but are considered socially sensitive.
Some of the questions included 'how to be a good mother' or 'about reproductive health'. Even in their physical environment, women face restrictions on access to the internet, as (perhaps well-meaning) family members tend to worry about the exposure their female family members will get.
"Because of that, Google brings #YukBukaSuara in collaboration with many colleagues," said Feliciana Wienathan Communications Manager of Google Indonesia.
Google is committed to advancing Indonesian women with various efforts, one of which is making videos that inspire and fight stereotypes in collaboration with role models. Second, by collaborating with various communities so that women can have a voice. Third, hopes and efforts to create access to empower women. Google is known to always monitor the 'gender gap' on the internet so that it can be more sensitive to this issue.
The gender gap is not something to be taken lightly. If left unchecked, this could pose a much bigger problem for the country. The fifth pillar in the Sustainable Development Goals explains that gender inequality impairs Indonesia's ability to develop, poverty eradication efforts, and effective governance.
"On this International Women's Day, we want us to remind and empower Indonesian women to show themselves by finding their identity and voice, to express it through an initiative called #YukBukaSuara," explained Fida Heyder, Head of Consumer Apps Marketing at Google Indonesia.
#YukBukaSuara is an initiative to inspire more Indonesian women, especially young women, to understand the difference between stereotypes and facts, perceptions and reality, the voice of society that surrounds them with their own opinions and voices. Fight what's possible, break the barriers, be the first. Because clicking a button and asking Google a question can generate knowledge that inspires perspectives and opens up new worlds.