Re-Search: The Technology Aiming to Create a Gender Balanced Internet

Bella Breakdown

Have you ever done an image search for the term “Fire Fighter” or “Doctor” on the internet? If you have, then you’ve probably noticed that an overwhelming number of the search results feature men in these roles. Why? Especially when we all know that females are working in both of these previously male-dominated professions.

And, the same is true about the opposite scenario, ever images search a “preschool teacher” or “nurse”? You’ll find images that mainly feature women working in these professions. It’s as if the internet isn’t taking into account the societal shift towards gender equality and neutrality, but seeing as the internet is the source for nearly all of our information it should reflect the tone of the times.

Enter Re-Search, a soon-to-be launched browser extension, which gives men and women an equal space in the search results. Swedish technology company Semcon is responsible for the revolutionary solution and is a company that truly practices what it preaches. Their goal is to meet the definition of a gender balanced company by 2022. This means having a male–female ratio between 40 and 60 percent throughout the Group.

Re-Search addresses an apparent problem with the way our image search results are currently delivered to us. We live in a world where either gender can take on any profession they’d like, and the internet should reflect this universal truth.

Re-Search is free and works with many web browsers and once launched it will be able to manage 65 different professions and stimulate a greater gender balance in search results.

As a mother of two daughters, I’m thrilled that when my children research various jobs online that they’ll be presented with an accurate and equally representative set of information which showcases both males and females role models. It’s important for everyone, especially children, to view the genders equally, even when it comes to something as simple as an image search.

With the help of Re-Search, you can see it and be it!
 
To find out more about the Re-Search project click HERE or check out the video below!