Is Technology Stacked Against Women?

Is Technology Stacked Against Women? Women make up the majority of the U.S. population, but they are underrepresented in technology professions and leadership roles, earning only about one-third of tech degrees and working in less than 25 percent of tech jobs, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This phenomenon dubbed the leaky pipeline by researchers and journalists describes the gap between how many women enter the tech workforce and how many women actually stay there and advance in their careers—and it doesn’t seem like it’s going away anytime soon. Is technology stacked against women? And if so, why?

Gender equality in tech?

Is Technology Stacked Against Women? The number of women in tech has been on a steady decline. It’s not a new issue. And yet, there is still more work to be done. In fact, it seems like every week we hear about another woman who experienced sexual harassment or discrimination while working in technology. In light of these recent events, it’s important to reflect on what we can do as an industry and as individuals to ensure that everyone feels safe and respected at work.

Perception vs. Reality

Is Technology Stacked Against Women? There’s no denying that technology has become an intrinsic part of our lives. Recent reports suggest that by 2020, 90% of jobs will require tech skills. But despite these advances, women are still largely underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and math fields—occupations also referred to as STEM careers (Science Technology Engineering Math). So is technology stacked against women? Or is it merely a numbers game?

It’s your job

Being a woman in tech requires you to be an exemplary representative of your gender. You can’t be afraid to speak up, question things that don’t make sense and do something about them, say no to things that aren’t right for you and yes to things that are; if people don’t like it, let them come at you—you have just as much right to be there as they do.

Best of Both Worlds

Most of us know that technology has a way of distancing us from one another, but there are ways to bring it back around. Let’s start with email, perhaps our least human form of communication. By sending an I care about you note instead of an all-business message, you can warm up a coworker who might otherwise be indifferent to your existence.

Tips for Parents

1. Encourage girls to develop strong self-esteem. Teach them they are every bit as competent as boys, and that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to. Assure them they are beautiful and talented and listen carefully to their concerns and interests. Let them know you believe in them with words and actions, not just empty praise. This will help lower their inhibitions when tackling challenges in math, science, or technology.

What about the men?

The fact is, women do not have an equal shot at all jobs in technology. The numbers vary from study to study and from source to source, but it’s safe to say that overall more men than women work in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. In recent years, some studies have suggested that for every 1 woman there are 2 or 3 men working in STEM jobs—and other studies suggest that only 1 out of every 10 people who work in STEM fields are female.

Interview with Karol Markowicz, Founder of WordCamps for Women Worldwide
By hosting WordPress events designed specifically for women, you are empowering them to not only become more technologically adept, but to help others do so as well. What prompted you to start these WordCamps and what exactly is involved in organizing them? Are they mostly women or men who attend these events and how can they be helpful to others who want to learn more about WordPress, which is a very powerful online platform that helps create websites easily, without any programming knowledge necessary.