Technology hasn’t always been female-friendly, but change is slowly coming. While the road is long, the small steps that companies have been taking are great for women across the world.
The dating app Bumble is an example of how technology can be designed by keeping women in mind. On Bumble, if two users match, only women can send the first message. We are seeing many more changes like this which helps in creating an equitable society.
Indian women certainly aren’t the most empowered, but technology can make a lot of difference. Making apps specific to women and their needs, making their lives better, are a welcome change from the drudgery of daily life.
Here are some of the apps that every woman needs to have on their smartphones:
Joanne Evans, a facialist, designed the app that enables you to take care of your skin. If you input your information like age, gender, and skin type, it will tell you the ingredients that you need to look for, why you should use them, and which are the ones that you need to avoid. The app has suggestions for over 2,000 skincare ingredients and even tells you which ones to avoid. For women who worry about getting their skincare right, this one is a lifesaver.
One of the most recommended period tracking apps by gynaecologists, Clue will help you monitor your menstrual cycle by telling you when your period will start. It even assists in tracking your mood during the cycle, and educates you about your body, your periods, fertility and menstrual cycle. The app has more than 30+ tracking options — right from birth controls to cramps, hair, sleep, mood swings, cervical fluid, etc. It even adapts to your unique cycle. Healthline ranked it among the Best Fertility Apps for the years 2019 and 2020.
Bumble is not only a female-centric dating app, but it is also a social networking platform where you can make friends and business acquaintances. The best part is that you have separate spaces for making friends and finding acquaintances within the app. By allowing women to make the first move, the app lets them decide whether to pursue a match or not.
BabyGoGo is an app that answers all questions about parenting, baby care, and pregnancy. The app only includes research and evidence-based tips on the platform, so you do not have to worry about getting tips that might not be scientifically valid. It is one of the fastest-growing mom and baby communities. The app even has post-pregnancy tips that include lactation, workout regimes, skincare, etc.
It is a map-based app which tells women if the area they are in is safe. The location is pointed with a green pin if it is safe, and a red pin is used if the area is unsafe. The app even provides information about the available public transport facilities. It provides many other kinds of information like the nearest police station, ATM, pharmacy, clinic, etc. The users of the app can share real-time location to the user’s contacts with the help of GPS. The My Safetipin app is available in both English and Hindi.
(Edited by Kanishk Singh)
