A women’s hairsalon in Mathare, Nairobi, Kenya on 5th March 2025. Kenyan women work in many different professions, both in the formal and informal sector, to contribute to running their households, and to catering to the needs of their extended families and their wider communities. 
Photo credit: Gerald Anderson/Anadolu via Getty Images

The future of women education on their rights, equity and empowerment

The future of women’s education on their rights, equity, and empowerment is deeply intertwined with the rise of digital activism and online movements. These platforms are powerful tools for educating women about their legal rights, workplace protections, and social justice issues. This International Women’s Day, we explore how women can harness the power of digital platforms to drive transformative change.

Encouraging more women to enter and thrive in various industries is not just a matter of fairness but a strategic imperative. It is about harnessing the natural strengths that women bring to the table. Through digital activism and online platforms, women can amplify their voices, challenge injustice, and create global change. From grassroots movements to large-scale policy advocacy, their innate strengths, such as emotional intelligence, empathy, resilience, and collaborative leadership, fuel the success of online activism.

Through online movements, women can create and organise spaces to connect, share experiences, and collectively drive change. Digital activism removes traditional barriers, such as geographical and societal restrictions, ensuring that women from all backgrounds can engage in discussions on equity and empowerment. Moreover, social media, blogs, and digital campaigns amplify women’s voices, providing platforms to speak out against injustices, advocate for policy reforms, and inspire meaningful change on a global scale.

Women must be at the forefront of online movements advocating for human rights, gender equality, and social justice. Their ability to foster solidarity and build inclusive communities has led to powerful digital campaigns. Women naturally create emotional connections, making their advocacy more relatable and impactful. Their storytelling abilities bring issues to life, fostering empathy and inspiring action.

Online activism also allows women to enter political spaces where they have traditionally been excluded or underrepresented. Through digital campaigns, they have influenced legislation, elections, and public policy. Women’s collaborative and inclusive approach strengthens movements that unite diverse groups, making political advocacy more effective.

Women-led online movements have the potential to evolve into sustainable social enterprises, nonprofits, and advocacy groups that leverage digital tools for long-term impact. Women excel at long-term vision planning, social entrepreneurship, and community-driven business models, making them effective leaders in sustainable activism.

A growing number of women use digital spaces to redefine gender roles, challenge stereotypes, and empower younger generations. Social media has become a platform for women to share experiences, educate audiences, and build supportive networks. For example, digital activism has helped normalise conversations about mental health, body positivity, and women’s health issues while also creating safe spaces for marginalised women. Using women’s empathetic and nurturing qualities should help foster online communities that uplift, support, and drive societal change.

All these women’s potentials, as well as what the digital platforms offer, signify that it is time to vamp up support for investments in digital literacy, online safety, and leadership training for women. Also, by harnessing the power of digital platforms, women can drive transformative change, ensuring a future where rights, equity, and empowerment are not just ideals but tangible realities.