Communications practitioner Fisiwe Vilane has called for greater support and exposure for girls interested in science and technology, saying gender stereotypes continue to push young women away from fields where they can excel.
Speaking on the 5Questions podcast, Vilane said the country needed to start encouraging girls from an early age to believe that careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics were also meant for them.
She said many girls begin their schooling as bright and confident learners, but start doubting themselves as they grow older and are warned that science subjects will be difficult.
“A male engineer is looked at differently than a female engineer, however that needs to change because I am a great believer that we are just as good as females,” said Vilane.
She acknowledged the capabilities of men in technical fields but said women still had considerable ground to cover.
According to Vilane, one of the biggest challenges was the lack of accessible female role models who can show young girls what is possible.
She said her own inspiration had come from hearing the stories of strong women who had overcome adversity.
“If that person can go through that adversity and still prevail, it tells you that there is something bigger I can do with the privilege that I have,” she said.
Vilane said creating interest in science and technology should not be left to one sector, with parents, teachers and industry players all having a role to play.
She recalled how even simple conversations with young girls could influence their career choices, saying adults needed to be more intentional about the messages they gave children.
“When my niece tells me she wants to join a science fair, what am I telling her that will make her want to join?” she asked.
She also stressed the importance of teachers encouraging girls to pursue science-related subjects instead of allowing them to be intimidated by the challenges associated with them.
For Vilane, technology has opened up the world, but this progress must be matched by deliberate efforts to ensure girls are not left behind.
She said there were “lots of conversations” that needed to happen around girls and technology, particularly as the country seeks to prepare young people for an increasingly digital future.
Vilane’s comments come as the need for more women in technology remains a global concern, with her arguing that greater exposure and strong role models could help young girls see themselves as future engineers, scientists and technology professionals.
BEHIND FISIWE VILANE’S PUBLIC PERSONA
To many people, Fisiwe Vilane is the confident communicator, leader and advocate who appears perfectly comfortable in the public spotlight.
But behind that image is a woman who admits she is not as much of an extrovert as people may think.
Vilane revealed the more private side of her personality during the podcast, explaining that her work required her to constantly engage with people, but she also needs time away from the noise.
“The people that are close to me will tell you that I am not much of an extrovert as everyone seems to think,” she said.
Vilane said that after spending time interacting with people and doing everything her work required, she needs to close the door, breathe in and out and simply calm her nerves.
It was a contrast to the confident personality that many people have come to associate with her professional life.
Part of the woman she had become, she said, could be traced back to the people who believed in her when she was starting out.
Fresh from university, Vilane described herself as highly energetic and said she was fortunate to have bosses who saw potential in her and were willing to give her opportunities.
She said the relationships she formed early in her career have remained important to her, even as she has evolved professionally and personally.
Looking back, Vilane acknowledged that she had changed significantly over the years.
She admitted that she no longer had the same energy she had when she was younger, but said growing older had also brought greater understanding and a willingness to adapt.
Her career itself did not unfold exactly as she had imagined.
Vilane said she once thought she would remain in fast-moving consumer goods and marketing industry, but eventually found herself in communications.
Although the path was unexpected, she has embraced where it has taken her. Vilane said she enjoyed the challenges that come with her work and believed there was still more for her to achieve.
“I’ve never seen myself where I am now, but I really enjoy it. I believe if I push myself, there’s an opportunity for more to come,” she said.
