As Women’s Month in South Africa slowly comes to an end, so will the majority of political commentary against gender-based violence and the economic inequality experienced by women in our country. While some might leverage women’s month as a means to score political points, the majority of South Africans commemorate this period as a reminder of the many ways in which women today still experience hardship through different facets of their lives.
“While the lack of progress from a political perspective may appear discouraging, we should not shy away from recognising the great work, innovation, and progress that is emerging from both the private and non-profit sectors in creating a more just and equal world for women in South Africa today,” shares Ester Maree, Head of Brand and Communication at Specno.
Maree comments that we can find such inspiration in the latest developments from the FemTech sector, which is proving to give women the upper hand through technology: “Short for female technology, FemTech refers to a category of software or digital-based products or services that are geared towards women’s health, empowering women to have more knowledge of their health and to make more informed decisions.”
The technology emerging from this market provides several key functions and solutions. These include menstrual calendars that help women track their menstrual cycle from their start to end date, flow intensity, key symptoms, and mood swings, empowering women with a means to log data regarding their cycles to better understand their menstrual patterns and identify any irregularities or changes over time. Fertility tracking tools empower users with ovulation predictors and reminders, fertility window tracking, basal body temperature charting, and ovulation test integration, streamlining successful conception and family planning. Once conception is achieved, these apps also offer pregnancy and postpartum careby providing prenatal education resources, postpartum recovery guides, and breastfeeding support, guaranteeing that women do not feel lost in their pregnancy journey and can have a healthy and well-supported recovery after birth.
“The industry goes a step further, providing new opportunities and easier access to assistance where needed. FemTech apps are now capable of providing telemedicine and teleconsultations through virtual appointments with gynecologists, obstetricians, therapists, and other healthcare professionals. This bodes well for those living in underserved, remote, or rural communities, increasing access to healthcare services they ordinarily would have gone without. For women in these communities, especially in a country as vast as South Africa, timely interventions can be acted upon to prevent further danger to their health and enhance patient-provider communication overall,” shares Maree.
She comments that the industry has seen remarkable growth in recent years, driven by increased awareness and investment in women’s health, coupled with the rising popularity of smartphone apps for everyday use: “The FemTech market is projected to exceed $75 billion by 2025, two times larger than what it was in 2020, overshadowing its status 11 years ago, when the industry barely totaled $134 million per year. Starting with its first tech start-up, Glow, a period and ovulation tracking app, the industry boasted over 1000 start-ups in 2020, with a substantial number of them led by women.”
The industry is a testament to how practical solutions, driven by women, can empower other women.
“The future development of this industry must be built in a manner that seeks to plug any gaps with innovative technology. In fact, no rule limits FemTech to health-related technology alone. The industry can be expanded to cover all other areas where women experience inequality. Could we expand into developing mobile-based apps that provide 24/7 counseling for rape victims? Could we conduct feasibility studies on online workplace coaching for women, to give them the upper hand in interviews to secure the working opportunities they have earned and deserve?,” concludes Maree.
The space for imagination and innovation is limitless. Technology has the potential to create convenience. Like the many women who have spearheaded existing startups in the FemTech space, true visionaries can lead the world into embracing more solutions.
