Women Acing the Digital Space, One App at a Time

Srishti | Aug 18, 2024

Social Media: A Safe Digital Space

While many may consider social media as a tool for the frivolous, catering to no real issue, Indian women are leveraging it every day. These virtual spaces have become a safe haven they have access to, sometimes anonymously; especially for those who are still not allowed to express themselves in society without judgement. Social media platforms have given women from the exposure they could have never imagined.

Over the past couple of years, we have seen campaigns and revolutions led by women that have practically transformed the way people perceive and treat women. During the #MeToo wave, for instance, women shared their survival stories, opening up to discussion a plethora of issues that exist and are silently accepted.

Cab apps

Commute has always been tricky for Indian women. Whether private or public, safety while travelling is not always guaranteed. . However, with introduction of women-only taxi services portals like Women Cabs, Koala Kabs, ForShe, TaxShe, SheCab and Viira Cabs, women have found a sense of security, making travel considerably safer for them.

Safety apps

Staying confined within the four walls of your home is rarely ever an option anymore. And there’s no guarantee of safety even within the home. Enter technology for women’s safety. There are safety apps that allow women to seek help from friends, family or the police in times of distress and danger. With apps like Himmat by the Delhi Police, Women Safety, Sheroes, bSafe, Smart 24x7 and Disha by Andhra Pradesh police are available for women at all times, ensuring some kind of security while on the go.

Job openings

Women’s financial independence has been, thankfully, on a rapid rise. Due to advancement in technology, several websites now have special job openings with flexibility, such as part-time jobs, jobs from home, flexible timings, paid projects, freelance gigs, etc. Homemakers and mothers who have had to take a career break now have access to such exclusive job opportunities, while being at home. It’s not only beneficial to the women who opt for jobs like these, but also to the employers as they save on hiring or on paying full-time salaries for task-based work.

Health and fitness apps

It has often been observed that women are, at times, too shy to discuss their medical issues with doctors, owning to certain societal biases. With the introduction of health apps that ensure absolute anonymity, women can access doctors and medical experts on their fingertips. A few apps that are currently available In India are HerCircle, which lets women track their period, pregnancy, diet and fitness; Maya; Health Saathi; Flo; Cult.fit; and Practo.

Finance

We all understand the importance of financial independence that then ensures financial security. However, it can been a tricky space for women. Many women, even though professionally and financially sound, lack the know-how and tools and therefore, depend on their male counterparts to manage their money and finances. Now there are apps like HerCircle that let you help and track your personal finances. More finance-related apps that are available include Miss Piggy Banks, Mahila Money, Basis and LXME, which simplify financial jargon and educate on the various aspects of finance.