Written by Pablo Godoy Fernández — Women 5.0

Digital transformation is reshaping the way we learn, work, run businesses and take part in society. Artificial intelligence, data, automation and digital platforms are opening up new possibilities, but they also raise an important question: who is really able to benefit from these technologies, and under what conditions?

The article “Ethics and Law in the Digital Revolution”, by Margarita Robles Carrillo and Txetxu Ausín, offers a valuable starting point for this reflection. The authors argue that digitalisation is not a neutral process. Because of its power to transform the economy, education, social relations, politics and rights, technology carries an ethical dimension. In other words, it is not enough to ask what technology can do. We also need to ask what it should do, who it serves, and what risks it may create.

This ethical perspective is especially relevant when we look at gender equality. The digital revolution can create new opportunities for women entrepreneurs, but it can also deepen existing inequalities if it is not accompanied by training, confidence-building, role models and accessible support. Many women entrepreneurs still face barriers that are not only technical. Gender stereotypes, lack of confidence with digital tools, limited visibility of women in technology, and difficulties in applying digital solutions to small or early-stage businesses all play a role.

For this reason, the gender digital gap should not be understood only as a question of access to devices or software. It is also about participation, confidence, decision-making power and the ability to use innovation for personal and professional growth. From this point of view, the ethical approach proposed by Robles and Ausín becomes very practical: a responsible digital transformation must make sure that technological opportunities reach those who have traditionally had less access to them.

This is where Women 5.0: Women entrepreneurs in a digital future comes in. The project aims to support a more inclusive digital transformation by challenging gender stereotypes around technology and strengthening the digital skills of women entrepreneurs. It is closely connected to the central idea of the article: if technology is transforming society, then this transformation must be guided by justice, responsibility and inclusion.

Women 5.0 responds to this challenge through several complementary activities. It develops a learning pathway to help women entrepreneurs use digital tools and emerging technologies in a gradual, practical and meaningful way. It also provides resources for trainers, advisers and entrepreneurship support professionals, recognising their key role in guiding women, encouraging them and helping them build confidence in the use of technology. In addition, the project’s awareness-raising activities highlight that digital equality is not only a technical issue, but also a social and cultural one.

This link between ethics and adult learning is essential. Talking about artificial intelligence, automation or data in women’s entrepreneurship should not be limited to learning how to use tools. It also means reflecting on responsible use, safety, data protection, bias, decision-making and the wider social impact of technology. In this sense, Women 5.0 promotes not only digital skills, but also a more critical, confident and conscious relationship with the digital world.

The conclusion is clear: digitalisation will only be truly transformative if it is inclusive. A technological revolution that leaves part of society behind cannot be considered real progress. This is why projects such as Women 5.0 are so important. They turn ethical reflection on the digital revolution into concrete action through training, support and awareness-raising.

In line with the article by Robles and Ausín, Women 5.0 reminds us that technology should serve people, not the other way around. For women entrepreneurs, this means being able to use digitalisation not as a barrier, but as a tool to strengthen their ideas, expand their opportunities and take an active role in shaping the digital future.

Reference: Robles Carrillo, M. and Ausín, T. (2021). Ética y Derecho en la Revolución Digital. Revista Diecisiete, No. 4, pp. 15–28. DOI: 10.36852/2695-4427_2021_04.00.

Find out more: women5.eu