This post can also be found on Rewriting the Code's blog.
As a first-time judge for Pearl Hacks, an all-female and non-binary hackathon, I was proud to represent and share the mission of Rewriting the Code to
such a wide range of participants. The participants I met were freshman from Duke, sophomores from North Carolina A&T, seniors from Georgia Tech and so many other awesome schools. As I walked around the two and a half hour
demo session, I was overwhelmed with excitement over the total 71 projects that were submitted, a record high in Pearl Hacks history. I would be judging 32 projects, and deciding whose project would win our prize of the Best Women’s Empowerment Hack.
Through hearing each group’s pitch, I recognized how women’s empowerment comes in a multitude of forms.
I was intrigued by how groups chose to tackle wellness issues, by creating designs for websites and apps which personalize health and fitness plans, offer tools to chat with health professionals and connect with nearby users to access menstrual products when you are in need. These groups recognized the importance of making women feel comfortable in their own skin and not feel afraid to ask questions about their own body, empowering them to make decisions confidently.
Other projects sought to uplift women economically, by creating websites that allow them to elevate their economic status through financial literacy and investing techniques. These ideas reiterate how financial stability can be gained at any point in life, and provides a unique space for them to learn and build these skills.
