What does it mean to be a woman in tech? It means a lot of work must be done for this question to become irrelevant someday.

You are reading Part II of II. If you want to read Part I, click here.

In the first part of this series, we delved into the causes of systemic gendered discrimination in STEM careers at an early stage. Now we want to analyze why 55% of women that complete their Master’s degree in STEM do not continue to pursue their goals in this sector.

The news is filled with cases of anonymous reporting. Media is the perfect amplifier to give them visibility so that those who have experienced harassment can get together. More than that, it encourages people to step out and tell their stories too. Movements, initiatives, and non-profit organizations are key players in this revolution.

The recent figures and stats have been heavy, but always remember: you are not alone, and most importantly, you are not wrong. There is, as they say, strength in numbers. Gender discrimination and sexual harassment are currently on the spot, and it’s time for the tech sector to roll up its sleeves, look inwards and address these issues head-on.

Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

Systematic intimidation, belittlement, discrimination, and sexual violence. These are only a few harsh examples of sexual and gender harassment that women, in particular, have to bear at work, or outside of it, daily. This is also why white-collar women who sometimes fought to be their own bosses find their careers derailed by abuse and discrimination.

In 2022 in the United States, women earned 17% less than men on average, and “when comparing women and men with the same job title, seniority level and hours worked, a gender gap of 11% still exists in terms of take-home pay”.

Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Facebook, explored in a TED Talk why women usually underestimate their capabilities. She states that it is due to the patriarchal education and lack of mentoring received the “impostor syndrome,” as it is called. Additionally, often men attribute their success to themselves, while women attribute it to other external forces. This behavior translates into 57% of men entering the workforce for the first time negotiating their salary, in opposition to only 7% of women.

“Women in tech won’t apply for a job if they don’t feel 100% qualified or have the right experience. As a result, women end up moving horizontally while their male peers progress.” — Nicola Anderson, MyTutor.

Susan Fowler detailed the sexual harassment she experienced and subsequent retaliation while working for Uber. Now she has published her book Whistleblower: My Journey to Silicon Valley and Fight for Justice at Uber, where she digs deeper into the consequential events of not being believed by the HR team at the company and how they tried to convince her that she was the real problem. They alleged that the offender was a “high performer,” that it was his “first offense,” and that they did not want to ruin his career. Although she was transferred to another team, her male managers provided low-performance reports that prevented her from being promoted.

Women still only represent 22% of the Board of Directors, and despite the number of female CEOs on the Fortune 500 hitting its all-time record, still, only 37 companies entering 2020’s list are led by women.

It has been proven that having more female leaders as CEOs and at least three female roles on executive boards is required to allow for their ideas to be heard and seen. Valeria Domínguez, robotic engineer and founder of eCommerce consultancy Felino, finds a direct association between why there are just a few women in tech and maternity.

Technologies to drive change

And that is exactly the philosophy that we have created at Metta Space. This female-led company integrates many different fields of study and promotes equal gender development opportunities for all.

We are also materializing tech-based solutions to help those who have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace, support them post-incident, and create a community so that no one has to feel alone.

Written By: Blanca Zaragoza, Research Ambassador at Metta Space

Edited By: Paula Koller-Alonso, Head of R&D at Metta Space