Society has long been dominated by men – for over 10,000 years and counting, in fact. Patriarchy as a social system first took root around 9,000 BC, when agriculture was invented. Back then, land and property was passed down the male line by default, and so men came to the fore – and have remained there ever since. Centuries on, men are still vastly more likely than women to hold positions of power in both the physical and virtual realms.
But what if we could create a whole new world – one where both men and women have a seat at the table? This is one of the principles underpinning Web3, which is essentially a decentralised, democratised version of the Internet built on blockchain technology, thus dramatically changing the way information is stored and shared.
In this utopian virtual reality, power isn’t wielded by a select few entities, as it is in Web2 – the version of the Internet we know today, where large corporations provide services in exchange for users’ personal data. Instead, ownership and control lie with the masses, and decisions are made as a collective. And for some women, this represents a chance to level the playing field and build a more equitable society for all.
MORE EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES
However, the truth is that Web3 is still very much a boys’ club. Take the cryptocurrency industry, for instance. While bitcoin is aimed at encouraging financial equity, less than 5 per cent of crypto entrepreneurs are women, according to crypto platform Crypto Head. Crypto exchange Gemini also states that three in four crypto holders are men. This gender gap is also all too apparent in the NFT economy: Research firm Arttactic notes that only 16 per cent of NFT artists are female, and that male creator represent a whopping 77 per cent of art sales.
Denne historien er fra July 2022-utgaven av Her World Singapore.
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Denne historien er fra July 2022-utgaven av Her World Singapore.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Dressing For Success
Today's workplace dress codes are more varied than ever, but as the lines blur, we're left wondering: Is dressing down impacting how we show up - and how confident we feel at work?
Power Puff
This '80s skirt trend is popping up on our social media feeds and on the streets.
Is Social Media Really Necessary For Career Success?
Social media platforms are powerful job-hunting and networking tools, but if you don't use them for professional reasons or aren't comfortable posting online, don't worry - there are other ways to improve your career prospects.
PAYING IT FORWARD
When she noticed that women in developing countries were not getting the funding they deserved, Laina Raveendran Greene started Angels of Impact.
FIRING UP SINGAPORE'S INDIE CINEMA SCENE
Nothing makes Karen Tan, co-founder of The Projector, more happy and fulfilled than making a difference to a film-goer's experience. For her, that spells \"f-u-n\" and brings people together. In the third instalment of the \"HER WORLD, HER SPARK\" series, presented in partnership with DBS, we speak to Karen about her journey.
WILLA BELLE
ONG is intentional about building the next blocks of her career
Back For Good
Get ready we are now in the halterneck era.
Stick Sunscreen
Using sunscreen is extremely important to protect our skin from the harmful effects of the sun’s UV rays.
Beyond The 9-To-6
According to Her World's annual What Women Want survey, a staggering seven in 10 women in Singapore are willing to take a pay cut for a job that offers better perks and benefits, with a flexible work schedule being a top priority. Are employers here ready to accept flexible arrangements as part of our lexicon?
Leading Singapore's Sustainable Innovations
In this second instalment of the "HER WORLD, HER SPARK" series, presented in partnership with DBS, we speak to Oh Chu Xian, founder of deep tech start-up Magorium. Determined to make the construction sector a more sustainable one, she's revolutionising it with a new technology that turns plastic waste into sustainable building materials.