asserts , feelings of helplessness , hopelessness , poor self-esteem , depression and anxiety were all being enhanced by Instagram .
“ When our society becomes a place where technology is used to destroy young women ’ s self-esteem , to cause suicide , and to perpetuate harmful norms , we are failing as a technical community .”
An ‘ ethical revolution ’ through feminist leadership By assessing and improving the interrelationship between ethics and technology , the industry can work towards a new ethical framework – which , Karlin states , is something that is starkly absent from within the industry .
Firstly , according to Karlin , part of this is about asking ‘ better questions .’ Rather than giving sole voice to purely profit-led questions , a feminist approach to leadership requires leaders to evaluate the ethical implications of a product , before it is brought to the market .
“ The purpose of capitalism is profit . They ' re not taking a pledge to say we want to do public good ,” Karlin asserts . “ So , we need people within the companies to ask these questions , because of the VCs and the board members who all come from the private sector – including the female board members – there are very few social impact leaders .”
For Karlin , feminist leadership can be defined by a humanitarian , people-led approach to technology , which she believes will bring about a much-needed ‘ ethical revolution ’ within the industry .
“ We need ethical leadership and we need feminist leadership . And when I talk about feminist leadership , it ’ s not leadership predicated on hating men . Feminist leadership is about valuing people over profit . It ' s about protecting people on the planet ,” Karlin outlines . sustainabilitymag . com 83