Women in Technology: 3 Ways to Attract More Girls to STEM
We can encourage women in technology to pursue leadership and close the pay gap by mentorship, early STEM exposure, and free coding classes
Frequent reports of sexual harassment and discrimination can intimidate young women in technology from pursuing the same activities as men. Even something as simple as taking a cab home alone is dangerous. Uber reported 235 rapes and 6,000 incidents of sexual assault last year.
In STEM fields, men remain a glaring majority where primarily male offices can often breed a toxic, “brogrammer” culture. Amplified examples of gender discrimination in the workplace lurk within technology companies. A 2018 study found that the technology industry had the second-highest reported rates of sexual harassment of women, at 37 percent.
Worse still, the perpetrators in these cases often go unpunished. Feminist groups and news organizations blasted Google when the company discharged two executives with generous pay packages in response to sexual harassment claims. Mishandled sexual harassment cases further paint STEM as an inhospitable industry for women.
The gender pay gap is one of the most commonly cited forms of gender discrimination. Hired, Inc. came out with a report called The State of Wage Inequality in the Workplace. The report looked at the pay discrimination of women in technology exclusively. The results showed that 63% of the time men were offered higher salaries than women for the same role at the same company. Statistics like these fail to incentivize women to enter STEM careers.
How do we encourage girls to enter STEM fields?
The task falls on those women who have already endured the discomforts of these forms of harassment. We must mentor the next generation of women in a straightforward and honest way to help them conquer the barriers which stand in our way of building successful careers in STEM. These young women need to be prepared with strategies to cope with and overcome these challenges.
1. Professional mentorship
One tried and true method is through mentorships. These mentorships can be done through an established organization like Girls in Tech, an intra-company program, or a personal decision to take on a new protégé. Regardless of the approach, mentorships have the potential to have a large impact on the careers of young, professional women in technology.
Students and transitioning professionals can learn a lot from the experiences of more seasoned women on how to choose a career, write resumes, and network effectively. These mentor-mentee relationships can improve lifetime earnings and career progression substantially.
A research study done by Development Dimensions International (DDI) showed that nearly 70 percent of businesswomen studied ranked mentoring as important to career success. Reaching out to women at pivotal points in their careers can have incredibly positive impacts on how they envision their future in tech.
2. Early exposure to science, technology, engineering, and medicine
Even before giving women guidance on their journey through technology careers, it is important to instill a passion for STEM within them. General interests or hobbies do not always grow spontaneously; children and teens need gentle introductions. Without this structured exposure, our youth may never have the opportunity to explore these skills.
Incorporating STEM learning techniques in primary and secondary school curriculum can help children recognize their potential within these fields. Early STEM education does not have to be complicated. Skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving play a huge role in the core engineering traits.
Incorporating activities on discovery and exploration into early childhood education can also foster positive views of science. This can lead to more young girls with science aspirations. By introducing girls to STEM at a younger age, we are giving them the necessary tools to see and explore it as a viable career option.
3. Free computer coding meetups and classes
Free programming courses geared towards young women on the verge of adulthood, such as Código Ecuador’s Computer Programming Course, give high school students the skills they need to start technology careers. It also gives them a safe space in which they can share this passion with other women.
By implementing this type of programming, we are creating a supportive environment for these women. This might be what it takes to convince them to begin a career in STEM; or what encourages them to stay. This could even drive some women into a C-suite position.
As Marian Wright Edelman, American civil rights activist said, “You can’t be what you can’t see.” Women in prominent tech roles will be the biggest propeller for young girls deciding whether or not to enter into a career in STEM. Until women make up a larger percentage of the tech field, it is up to those already in these fields to encourage others to take the plunge and follow their passions.
