Women in Tech


Women in tech is a topic that's rising in terms of discussions however there is a lack of solutions recommended when this problem comes up. Tech is a male dominated area and is built on the neo-colonial institutionalized issue of male dominance. There is a sexist outlook on women as they are constantly compared to men. This is because women are associated with other men and that's why she is successful, which is something we constantly read about. Also, women are shown as unqualified and less worthy than men. 

There is a discouraging atmosphere as women face more barriers as they cannot find the right support system. Also, women's contributions are not valued which creates a barrier in women participation. Women are also seen as emotional and feminine which is somehow a bad thing? I don't agree as self-awareness leads to self- improvement and being emotionally mature as a person. 

A small stat: In US, females comprise of 19% being hardware engineers, 21% software engineers, 22% computer programmers. While 75% are men in computer and math professions. These numbers have decreased since 1980’s. 

This statistic shocked me as to question what's wrong with our ecosystem that there are less women now than before. 

What are your thoughts on women in tech? Specifically what can be done to make it an opening environment for more women to participate in? If you are a woman would you be interested in pursuing a career in tech, why or why not? 

Comments

  1. Unknown19 March 2018 at 13:21

    Great post! I find that statistic extremely shocking as well. I think on elf the major reasons why the number of women in the technology economy is so low is because women have been traditionally seen to be defined by their bodies while men have been traditionally seen to be defined by their brains. Because of this, there is a lack of women in the tech economy as the tech economy is one that relies on the brain, especially for innovative ideas. I am not saying that women are not capable of it, rather that less women pursue it due to the idea that they will not be accepted and fail in the industry. Personally, I am pursuing marketing, an industry that blends technology with creativity. I have had 3 significant positions pertaining to this industry and have found that, while women have been a part of the office, males continue to dominate the head positions, such as CEO or President.

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  2. Kristina Kyriakis19 March 2018 at 17:57

    Hello, women in technology is such an interesting topic in my opinion and I'm glad this was brought up for discussion. It is unfortunate that there is such a negative connotation when women are associated with the technology industry. When Googled, there is plenty of information concerning women in this industry being harassed, not given equal job opportunity, or equal pay. Being a female that is intrigued by working in tech, it upsets me that in 2018 we are still seen as less than men in an industry that fuels the future of the human race. I often consider working in tech once I graduate (and an opportunity arises) because of the potential for a high income, in addition, I also find technology neat. In order for these statistics to change, we need more women in influential positions to lead by example so that men and other generations can learn from their tactics and success.

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  3. Unknown26 March 2018 at 18:55

    First of all, I find this topic very interesting as I am very passionate about erasing the line between genders, especially in the workplace. Indeed, there are existing stigmas that surround what genders ‘match’ specific careers, creating issues within institutions and the way women are viewed and valued in the business world.

    Drawing from my personal experience, I worked at an engineering company for a couple of years doing administrative work and now that I look back, only one woman was an engineer. With this said, the stat that you have provided is very accurate. Additionally, it is interesting to notice how the women took on more administrative and receptionist tasks at the company.

    I think it is a great challenge to eradicate the barrier between women and men in the tech sector but I believe it is not impossible. With organizations such as ‘Girls in Tech’, young girls become empowered to dive into activities without the fear of judgement. Thus, I think it is extremely important to incorporate this kind of education at a young age so that girls can truly explore what they are passionate about, changing those numbers in the future. (Here is the link to ‘Girls in Tech’: https://girlsintech.org).

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