Dear Friends:

We live in a crucial time.  The world's population is about 50 percent women.  Statistics show improvements in the years since Beijing, but there is still some way to go. Women are still bombarded by misogyny and sexism from all sides. Women are still poorer, earn less, bear the burden of poverty, hit glass ceilings, and  do more with less.  While the study of history is vital, it is even more vital to understand how the future may shape up in order to create the preferred futures and a global environment of equality.

This community will engage in discussions on the futures of women as well as highlight women who are shaping the future across all sectors.  We  note that the changing landscape of biological technology has made gender a matter of choice.  We need to do some serious thinking also about the role culture has played and will continue to play in shaping economic, political and social relationships between men and women.  As we contemplate the real possibility of a technological ‘singularity’ where artificial intelligence surpasses human intelligence, the need to have a wiser view of the future is vital.

As we canvas the voices of women around the world, we hope to meet a key goal of The Futures Forum -- the promotion of diversity in the global dialogues about our common future.