SHE.
SHE.
Jul 24, 2017 · 6 min read

Women and Technology: What is happening to women in one of the fastest growing industries?

If you’re familiar with the gender disparity in the labor market, then the next sentence will not surprise you:

The future of technology is at risk due to the prevalent gender gaps that exists within the IT discipline.

Women are more engaged within social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter, with 55% percent of active users being female(1). However, only 18% of women graduate college with a Computer and Information Sciences degree and less than 30% hold prominent positions in the tech world (1).

This has a number of tangible, positive impacts, such as :

  • contributes to GDP growth
  • creates new services into industries
  • creates jobs
  • promotes innovation

Moving Forward… fast

Our tech-dominated societies are still advancing. By the day. Yet many social ideologies (prevent supportive efforts from communities and limit access to resources) are holding back the growth from reaching it’s full potential with the systematic gender gap that we are trying to bridge.


Why Should You Care?

The foundation of innovation and development has been centered on technology. Ever since the techno boom in the 1990’s, Netscape was the first communications corporation to introduce a web browser before it lost to the new competitor: Internet Explorer.

For start-up companies in the 1990’s, the main source of investments were made through the stock market, allowing the public to hold shares of the companies. Ever since the market crash, many companies altered the standard by generating their investments through wealthy insiders. Today, the information commutation technology discipline (ICT) is one of the rapidly growing industries in the world, directly creating millions of jobs. (4-6)

By enabling half of the world’s population, what does our future really look like?

The absence of female participation in this industry — which helps the world operate on every scale possible — may result in high prices that the technological future of innovation might have to pay such as fewer solutions and creations

Women in Education

Figure 1 (2)

Today’s Women in Tech

Females are breaking stereotypes in ICT fields across the country with 28% of students with a B.S in computer science are women.

Believe it or not, this percentage has actually been decreasing over the past 25 years. Today, 41% of computer science majors at Harvard are women.

The talent exists, but so do the barriers which disallow these women to reach their full capabilities. (1)

Women in the Labor Market

Although women make up more than half of the laborers in the job market, their presence within IT fields — specifically at the executive level — is particularly low.

This is not to say that women are incapable of being in such positions. Instead, here are factors that influence this state. See below for more details.


Where is the Disconnect ?

This year, The Information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA) conducted a survey that quantitatively demonstrates the correlation regarding the lack of female participation in the tech world (over 500 participants) (3).

Most common obstacles that women face:

Figure 2 (3)

Why women are underrepresented:

Figure 3 (3)

How do we Fill in the Gap?

In order to technologically advance, institutions must systematically alter their methods when dealing with gender disparities.

Without increasing the presence of women on the executive level, the economy will continue to suffer an opportunity cost of on average 15% percent increase in profitability (3).

So how can we pave the path for more young girls and women to eventually reach higher levels within their academic and professional careers, more specifically, in the IT field?

Cultivating ‘IT’ in our Girls

Having the IT discipline as an option for young women is no longer a valid excuse because the assumptions of it being a male dominated field, instantly discourages them from perusing their education in an IT related study.

We should continue to support our youth by providing resources and positive encouragement to ensure they gain confidence and prepare for the journey.

By giving them the option, they select the IT field due to their absolute advantage of having the talent and skill sets needed in order for them to succeed. This means creating/maintaining after school programs and student unions which focus on activities that are interactive, supportive and beneficial. This should be applied at all levels of education and provided by every educational institution.

Prepare Women in the ‘IT’ World

As these women are continuing to gain knowledge, additional skills must be implemented such as communication, organization, and global networking. The goal is to guarantee that society and the system have provided enough resources for women to reach executive positions. It is important that women are able to articulate information when communicating with others, in individual conversations, or to a large audience, 100% confident in themselves which relates directly to organization and global networking. In order to begin a start-up, or reach an executive position within a company, women must also be learn how to negotiate and bargain in order for their businesses to be fully financed by rich investors without underselling their capacities.

Protect Women in the ‘IT’ World

Institutions need to implement strict guidelines regarding discrimination towards women (especially women of color), pay equity, and guidelines addressing unethical behaviors. Hardly any evidence is considered tangible regarding bias in the workplace besides the fact that women are underpaid and are absent in higher positions. Bias is mainly measured qualitatively by certain negative behaviors directed towards women in the office such as; disregarding ideas, unnoticed in meetings, told unappropriated comments, assigned stereotypical assignments, denied upward mobility without reason, etc. It is also required to provide resources that empower their female employees to maintain and enhance their level of commitment within the company.


Photo of Polyvore’s CEO: Jess Lee

Co-founder and CEO of Polyvore, Jess Lee once said:

“Just because you don’t fit the classic mold, doesn’t mean you can’t be”

To all of the females who have recognized and understood their talents, the next step for you is to identify how you will utilize your specialties for a greater good. How will you influence? How will you succeed? Do you want to follow your dreams? How far are you willing to go? We are not encouraged enough to contribute to the foundations of innovation, progression and development. Independence is within us, the endurance will exist, and the empowerment will continuously grow. It all begins with our thoughts. We must filter out the voices of doubt and confusion. We must fill our minds and souls with ambition, passion, and victory. Paired up with the right resources and supportive communities, there is no telling how advanced we will continuously be.The world expects failure, but some way, somehow, we again demonstrate what success really looks like.


SHE.

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SHE.

She Has Everything | Examining the role of women in the 21st century… or lackthereof.

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