A HUMAN RIGHTS-BASED FEMINIST FRAMED AI APPROACH TO ADVANCING GENDER EQUALITY

Mr. Majiuzu Daniel Moses*

*Correspondence to: Mr. Majiuzu Daniel Moses, Executive Director the Mo Centre | AI & Tech for social good | Alumni US Department of State.

Copyright

© 2023: Mr. Majiuzu Daniel Moses. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Received: 13 November 2023

Published: 01 December 2023

 

Abstract
Inequality of any kind robs humanity the natural sense of oneness and equity. Gender equality over the years has become a human right protected niche and advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have opened new possibilities for addressing gender inequality and promoting human rights. Inclusivity in diversity has become a cornerstone upon which the tripod of gender discrimination is broken. The threshold being that humanity is equal hence the need to proscribe gender inequality using human rights as a focal point through the medium of AI. Principles of human rights such as non-discrimination, equality, and autonomy have become imperative in applying a human rights lens to AI development and deployment. Recognizing and rectifying systemic and societal biases through AI is vital. This article explores the topic of AI for gender equality, highlighting the importance of a human rights-based approach. By employing AI technologies with a focus on human rights, we can effectively tackle the multifaceted challenges that hinder gender equality worldwide.

Introduction

The overwhelming growth in the field of Artificial intelligence has caught global attention as innovations have continue to thrive and improve on a consistent basis. Virtually every facet of social interaction and endeavour has been affected by innovations of AI. While this comes with both positive and negative attributes, AI has become a go to phenomenon to make lives easier and work more effective and faster. Its use cuts across organizations, industries, governments and both public and private sector.

Gender inequality has become a worrisome re-occurring challenge in the sphere of human rights and this has become a global worry as inequality oof any kind is an infraction to internationally guaranteed human rights. If human rights must be seen to have been manifestly recognized, observed and protected then inequality and gender bias should have no place in our social milieu. This discriminatory practice has engendered inequality both in the global north and the global south. 

Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have enabled new possibilities for addressing gender inequality and promoting human rights. By employing AI technologies with a focus on human rights, we can effectively tackle the multifaceted challenges that hinder gender equality worldwide. AI possesses the transformative potential in combating gender discrimination and empowering marginalized groups and emphasizes the significance of adopting a human rights framework, which encompasses principles such as non-discrimination, equality, and autonomy. Leveraging AI through this lens enables us to recognize and rectify systemic biases ingrained in our societies, institutions, and algorithms.

AI can contribute to gender equality in various ways such as promoting access to education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and political participation for women and gender minorities. AI-powered tools, such as data analytics and decision-making algorithms, can assist in identifying and addressing disparities, thus enabling evidence-based policymaking and targeted interventions. Indeed, there are ethical challenges associated with AI implementation. There is huge importance in transparency, accountability, and inclusivity in AI development and deployment processes. By involving diverse perspectives, ensuring algorithmic fairness, and considering the social implications of AI technologies, we can mitigate risks and avoid expanding existing inequalities.

Furthermore, there is potential risks of AI perpetuating gender biases if not carefully designed and
regulated. It is emphasized that there is need for continuous monitoring, auditing, and ongoing evaluation of AI systems to prevent discrimination and unintended harm. Ethical guidelines and regulations that prioritize human rights must be integrated into AI governance frameworks to safeguard against the misuse and abuse of these technologies. The transformative potential of AI in advancing gender equality from a human rights perspective is enormous. By leveraging AI to address systemic biases, enhance access to resources, and empower marginalized groups, we can create a more inclusive and equitable society. However, it is crucial to remain vigilant and uphold ethical principles throughout the development, deployment, and governance of AI systems to ensure that they contribute positively to gender equality and human rights.

1.0 AI For Social Good

Artificial intelligence possesses the transformative power of enabling societal advancement and social good. This transformation of AI has led to remarkable progress in society’s ability to tackle existing challenges as well as confront novel problems. The sustainable development goals of the United Nation can be more effectively and efficiently fulfilled using the innovations in AI. 

This no doubt showcases the potential of AI to help people globally from advanced to emerging countries.AI for social good entails the use of AI for societal wellbeing and advancement of the social fabric. While AI can be used to make our lives easier, it can also be used to solve the world’s most pressing and complex challenges and gender equality is necessary for the realization of part of this societal good ¹.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the way we live, work, and interact with each other. As we develop more advanced AI technologies, it is important to ensure that they are designed and deployed in ways that respect human rights and promote gender equality. This must be borne in mind at every stage of the AI process from design, algorithm and data build up, development and deployment.

2.0 The Importance of Human Rights and Gender Equality in AI

There is need to increase our understanding of the landscape and imperatives of gender equality and women’s empowerment in order to appreciate and address how it interfaces with AI. At the level of global women’s human rights, the Beijing Platform for Action, the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women, and the work of the UN Commission on the status of Women, are essential reference points for establishing a more comprehensive understanding of the persistent and entrenched structural and micro-level challenges of gender equality around the world².

AI technologies have the potential to amplify existing inequalities and discrimination if they are not designed and deployed in ways that respect human rights and promote gender equality. For example, facial recognition technology has been shown to be less accurate for people of color and women, which can lead to discriminatory outcomes. Additionally, AI algorithms can reinforce gender biases and stereotypes if they are trained on biased data or designed without considering the impact on different groups.

Therefore, it is crucial to ensure that AI technologies are developed with a human-rights based and feminist-framed approach in hindsight. This means that AI should be designed and deployed in ways that respect human rights, promote gender equality, and consider the diverse perspectives of different groups thereby imbibing the concept of inclusivity and diversity.

3.0 Creating a Human-Rights Based and Feminist-Framed AI World

There are several steps that can be taken to create a human-rights based and feminist-framed AI world:

 

1.Ensure Diversity in AI Development Teams 

AI development teams should be diverse and inclusive, with representation from different genders, races, ethnicities, and backgrounds. This would help to ensure that AI technologies are designed with diverse perspectives and considerations in mind. We need to bring more diverse brains and perspectives into computing, because the algorithms that power AI reflect those who create them³. Women must be included in writing algorithms as well as contributing to data to power these algorithms. They must be involved in the AI conversation at the level of developing AI mechanisms and systems.

 

2.  Train AI Algorithms on Diverse Data

As AI is quickly getting more robust and gaining capabilities, people are looking more closely at why it’s important to have diverse representation both in the data that is fed into these algorithms, and in the teams of people who work on them⁴. A report by the AI Now Institute of New York University found that 80% of AI professors are men and only 15% of Facebook researchers, and 10% of Google researchers, are women⁵. One of the challenges is that when there is a lack of diversity, there is a lack of diverse thought hence if the population that is creating the technology is homogeneous, we are going to get technology that is designed by and works well for that specific population⁶. Even if they have good intentions of serving everyone, their innates biases drive them to design what they are familiar with. As we write algorithms, our biases inherently show up in the decisions we make about how to design the algorithm or what and how data sets are used, and then these biases can get reified in the technology that we produce⁷. Diversity will be crucial to support ethical and transparent AI from diverse perspectives, to make sure the data used to train AI is diverse and to ensure that we have a handle on how these tools will change our lives. AI algorithms should be trained on diverse data that represents different genders, races, ethnicities, and backgrounds. This would immensely reduce the growing inequality and help to reduce bias as well as ensure that AI technologies are designed to serve everyone, not just a select group.

 

3.Conduct Impact Assessments

Impact assessment is relevant in the course of AI design hence AI technologies should be subject to impact assessments to measure the implications of the proposed AI system on end users. It provides an opportunity for evaluation of the outcome and impact of the AI project upon its deployment. At the impact assessment stage AI experts and engineers must assess the intended and unintended impacts of the AI system it seeks develop, measure the magnitude of such impact while also seeking corrective measures for such misnomer that would be revealed during the impact assessment stage. AI system will help consider the potential impact on different groups, including women, people of color, and marginalized communities. This would greatly help to identify and address any potential biases or discriminatory outcomes.

4. Establish Ethical Guidelines

Ethics plays a major in shaping the society by enthroning values and standards that are non-negotiable. This is vital in today’s ever expanding and tech driven society. Ethical guidelines serve as guardrails in AI development as it ensures the maintenance of specific standards of accountability, reasonability, inclusivity and equality. As technology advances, our responsibilities to society need to advance with it⁸. Ethics in AI are vital to the healthy development of all AI driven. technologies and systems. Biases must be eliminated prior to deployment of AI systems and human rights as well as gender equality must be at the forefront of this guidelines. These guidelines must put a yardstick to measure compliance with human rights and principle of equality. AI developers and users should adhere to ethical guidelines that prioritize human rights and gender equality. These guidelines should be developed in consultation with diverse stakeholders, including civil society organizations, human rights advocates, and representatives from marginalized communities in multistakeholder approach.

 

4.0 Ways in which AI Can Expand Inequality

Artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to revolutionize many aspects of our social lives, from the way we work to the way we interact with the world around us. However, there are also risks that AI could amplify huge level of inequality, both within countries and between countries. One of the biggest risks of AI is that it could lead to job displacement. As AI becomes more sophisticated, it is becoming capable of automating more and more tasks that are currently done by humans. This could lead to widespread unemployment, particularly among low-skilled workers or workers who fail to upskill.

Between 2019 and 2020, the number of unemployed people worldwide increased from 191.93 million to 235.21 million while in 2023 over 200 million persons were unemployed⁹. Unemployment has a disproportionate impact on people who are already marginalized, such as people of color, women, and people with disabilities. Deepening this already dire situation globally could lead to increased poverty and social unrest. In addition to job displacement, AI could also lead to increased inequality in wealth and income. As AI-powered technologies become more widespread, they are likely to be adopted by businesses and individuals who already have wealth and resources. This could lead to a widening gap between the rich and the poor.

The risks of AI increasing inequality are particularly acute in the context of climate change. Technology is concentrated in the hands of the rich and the disproportionate use can lead to adverse effect like global warming. Thus, as the planet warms, it is likely that there will be an increase in extreme weather events, such as floods, droughts, and wildfires. These events will disproportionately impact the poorest and most vulnerable people, who are often least able to adapt to change particularly women, children and the elderly. These persons are not put into consideration when technology is being adopted hence further strengthening the inequality gap. A study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology found that facial recognition technology is less accurate for people of color and women¹⁰. Similarly, a report by the World Economic Forum found that only 22% of AI professionals are female¹¹. A study by the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) found that AI systems can reinforce gender stereotypes, sexism and discrimination¹². Thus, it is safe to adduce that indeed AI can lead to gender inequality more so where AI algorithms are not developed, deployed against gender bias.

 

5.0 The Potential of AI for Advancing Gender Equality

AI has the potential to be a powerful tool for advancing gender equality in a number of ways. For example, AI can be used to:

1. Automate tasks.

Tasks that are currently performed by women can be automated, freeing up their time for other activities. The introduction of remote jobs now affords women and career Mums the ability to work from the convenience of their homes while affording them time to care for their families as well as pursue multiple tasks. AI can automate job workflow and tasks thereby making it easier for women to meet up work demands from any remote location.

1. Develop New Technologies

Develop new technologies that can help to improve the lives of women, such as technologies that can diagnose and treat diseases more effectively or that can provide access to education and employment opportunities.

1. Access to Education

AI-powered tools can advance inclusive education, addressing gender disparities in STEM fields, personalized learning experiences for marginalized groups. Currently women can access STEM related courses from the comfort of their homes and get certified easily upon meeting the certification requirement. These courses are offered both free and on scholarship basis and can be taken remotely.

1. Healthcare and Well-being

The transformative revolution of AI in healthcare has led to addressing complex health needs women face. AI unveils the power of early detection and diagnosis of hitherto life threatening ailments in women, crafts personalized precision tailored treatment for women, helps track menstrual cycle and fertility planning, support real time pregnancy vigilance and proactive assistance as well as provide open minded emotional companion therapy for women. Indeed, AI driven healthcare solutions for women's health can lead to improved access to reproductive healthcare, addressing biases in medical diagnosis and treatment.

1. Economic Empowerment

AI can promote a gender inclusive workplace, facilitating entrepreneurship and financial inclusion, bridging the gender pay gap through data analytics and monitoring reward system that is engenders equality. This way women are paid equal salaries with men of same qualification and expertise without any unequal treatment. In Identifying and Addressing gender-based discrimination, algorithms can be developed to detect bias in hiring practices as well as developing tools that can help women to negotiate for higher salaries.

1. Political Participation and Decision-making

AI can enhance women's political representation through AI data-driven policies for gender mainstreaming by countering online harassment and abuse. Women have often been subjected to political oblivion and reserved seat at the back of political discuss. However, in tackling this AI can help drive the narrative for equality of political opportunities and representation.

 

6.0 Human Rights-Based Feminist Framed AI

It is important to note that AI is a tool, and like any tool, it can be used for good or for bad. It is therefore important to take steps to ensure that AI is used in a way that is consistent with human rights and feminist values. A human rights-based feminist framed AI approach is an approach to the development and use of AI that is consistent with human rights and feminist values. This approach seeks to ensure that AI is used in a way that.

 

1. Respects the inherent dignity and worth of all people.
2. Promotes equality and non-discrimination.
3. Protects human rights, including the rights to privacy, freedom of expression, and freedom from discrimination.
4. Empowers women and other marginalized groups.

 

A human rights-based feminist framed AI approach can be implemented in a number of ways.

Some examples include:

1. Using data that is representative of the diversity of human experience. This means including data from women and other marginalized groups in the training datasets for AI systems. This will help to ensure that AI systems are not biased against these groups.
2. Designing AI systems in a way that is sensitive to the needs of women and other marginalized groups. This could involve designing systems that are more accessible to people with disabilities or that are less likely to be used to discriminate against people based on their gender, race, or other identity.
3. Involving women and other marginalized groups in the development and use of AI systems. This will help to ensure that AI systems are developed and used in a way that is beneficial to all people.

Recommendations

1. Establish a legal framework and governance measures for a humanist and ethical framework for advancement of AI and gender equality in order to strengthen gender equality and AI.
2. Increase awareness campaigns and education as well as gender equality advocacy should be encouraged for gender advocates, practitioners, civil societies and interest groups.
3. Promote more women and girls in the field of STEM and AI education and skill development.
4. Expand digital literacy and accessibility for gender equality advocates and interest groups to advance girls and women’s ability to realize equality goals.
5. Gender advocates and practitioners should be involved in policy implementation that seeks to advance gender equality.
6. Capacity building and funding in the field of gender equality advancement through AI.

 

Conclusion

AI is a powerful technology with vast transformative potential. It is imperative that AI is used in a manner that is consistent with human rights and feminist values. A human rights-based feminist framed AI approach is an approach that can help to ensure that AI is used to advance gender equality and create a more just and equitable world. By adopting a human rights-based approach in the development and deployment of AI technologies, we can harness their potential to address gender inequalities and promote inclusive societies. There must be vigilance towards upholding ethical principles to ensure that AI contributes positively to gender equality and human rights. With careful consideration, AI can be a powerful tool in creating a more equitable and just world for all.

References

1.UNESCO, ArtificialIntelligence and Gender Equality available at https://www.unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/ Accessed 17^th May 2023.

2. CEDAW available at https://www.ohchr.org/org/en/hrbodies/cedaw/pages/cedawindex.aspx; Accessed 18^th May 2023; UN Commission on the Status of Women available at https://www.unwomen.org/en/csw Accessed 18^th May 2023.

3. K. Miller, ‘Where are the women in tech and AI’ (The Boston Globe) available at https://www.bostonglobe.com accessed 20^th May 2023.

4.J. Stoltzfus, Data Quality: Why Diversity is Essential to Train AI (Techopedia, 8 February 2023) available at https://www.techopedia.com/why-diversity-is-essential-for-quality-data-to-train-ai accessed 21st May 2023

5. ibid.,

6. ibid.,

7.ibid.,

8.Wizata Team, The Importance of Ethics in AI (Wizata 4 February 2022) available at https://www.wizata.com/knowledge-base-/the-importance-of-ethics-in-ai? Accessed 23^rd May 2023

9. A.O’Neill, ‘Number of unemployed persons worldwide from 1991-2024’ (Statista, 2023) available at https://www.statista.com/statistics/266414/unemployed-persons-worldwide/ accessed 23^rd May 2023

10. Nist Study, ‘Effects of race, age, sex and facial recognition Software’ available at https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2019/12/nist-study-evaluates-effects-race-age-sex-face-recognition-software Accessed 25th May 2023

11. WEFORUM Agenda 2020 available at https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/only-22-of-ai-professionals-are-female-but-there-s-a-plan-to-change-that/ Accessed 25^th May 2023

12. L. Thil, ‘Artificial Intelligence, Platform work and gender equality’ available at https://www.rm.coe.int/artificial-intelligence-platform-work-and-gender-equality/1680a56b24 Accessed 25th May 2023