The Challenges Of Being A Woman In The Technology Industry

Over the years, there have been hardly any industries with a more pronounced bias against women than the technology industry. One thing familiar with the structure of all major tech companies and budding firms is the remarkable scarcity of women in all of them. You could say that occupational sexism in the technology industry is a culture against women. It is almost an institutionalized tradition that is fast turning into an unconscious bias.

Despite the irrefutable data supporting the benefits of diversity and inclusion in the workplace, the most advanced industry in history is backward in gender inclusion. Beginning from top leadership positions down to basic operations, women are the endangered species in technology. This condition could be attributed to many reasons, but more to the fact that women have not always had the necessary support to survive in tech like their male counterparts. 

The Bias and Prejudices

All forms of bias start with a belief. While some of them are founded, others are mere excuses only strong enough to support the weight of the unequal treatment of women. One of the common beliefs that encourage the discrimination against women in the technology industry argues that men are technically more gifted than women, and therefore, more competent. For this reason, companies prefer male employees over females in the field.

According to a 2015 publication by New York Times, only 30% of the employees of the largest technology companies are women, as captured in their reports. These reports show that the percentage of female employees is even lower for technical positions.

Also, this article shows that gender inequality informs the reason men earn up to 61% more than women in the technology industry. The most critical roles in technology are stereotyped as ‘masculine.’ The idea that specific jobs can only be performed by men further ensures that women have even much less opportunity to prove their worth or thrive.

In addition to the vast gender imbalance, reports of sexual advances fan the hostility that continues to alienate and purge the few ambitious women left in the industry. For this reason, Unmute collaborates with allies in women’s development and organizations for women empowerment to mentor interested women into healthy careers in technology.

Tackling the Challenge

So far, the most typical reason some tech companies consider closing the gender gap in the ratio of employees and salaries/benefits is diversity and inclusion. Some companies allow few females to join the leadership positions only to appeal to social endorsement.

However, a face value solution would still leave the dreams of many women unfulfilled. With proper mentorship, we help women unlearn the stereotype that technology is a masculine industry. With a disabused mindset, more women would enrol in schools and major in technology, knowing that they could rise to positions of authority in the industry.

Having had personal experiences of the positive results of unlearning the social and career stereotypes loaded on us by society, we are better equipped to mentor others with first-hand real-life experiences. Through unlearning, our Founder and CEO, Priyanka, has gone on to be recognized as one of the Top 10 Influential Women in technology by Analytics Magazine. She is here to build the next generation of women leaders.

The reality remains that the gap in the technology industry also exists even down to the cradle of education and all forms of training. Our duty at Unmute includes sensitizing women to develop the personal leadership to aspire beyond defined norms and stereotypes of defined masculine and feminine roles in the technology industry. Working with allies in women’s development has always been our formidable strategy to help women unlearn limiting conditioning that stalls their growth in the technology industry.

It is time to unlearn for both women and men. It is time to Unmute.