What Journalists Should Know About Women in Tech

Since the tech industry's earliest days, the ratio of men to women has been highly disproportionate. Unfortunately, this has seen almost no change in the last two decades. Despite the large number of women that are interested in entering the tech workforce, they still make up only 27% of those in high-tech roles.

Considering 47% of the total American workforce is made up of women, this goes to show that there is still a lack of spaces for women within tech. Similar data pertaining to women within the STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) field exists as well. If the percentage of women in STEM reflected the number of women aspiring to dive into that career field, the field would likely consist of equal parts men and women.

The Uphill Battle for Women (and Minorities)

Both women and people of color have so much more working against them in the tech industry than most men. Companies are not heading in the right direction; many of them are shying away from programs that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. The increasing number of conservative attacks have played a huge part in this. The requirement of diversity statements has been largely abandoned by organizations and companies that claim their diversity programs “did not work.” 

Diversity efforts have even been criticized by tech leaders and universities as reducing expectations for employees as well as productivity. It is bad enough that the presence of women in the tech industry has stagnated, but this issue unfortunately seems to be moving further backwards.

The Employment Gap Still Exists

There is an ongoing boom within IT jobs but women are not reaping the benefits nearly as much as the men. While women hold only 27% of the roles within computing and mathematics, the percentage is even more troubling when we talk about women of color. Women identifying as Asian or Pacific Islander only make up 7% of the workforce within IT, while Black and Hispanic women make up an abysmal 3% and 2%, respectively. The ratio of women to men in tech roles has shrunk over the last few decades. 

Sadly, half of the women who go into the tech industry drop out by the age of 35—which can be attributed to the lack of inclusivity for women in the tech industry. Lesbian, bisexual, and transgender women face a mountain of struggles too. Essentially, women of color in the LGBT community face every possible barrier when pursuing a career in the IT industry.

Representation is Still Lacking

The world of IT continues to be a boy's club of sorts. Women in tech are unfortunately accustomed to the lack of representation in their industry. When surveyed, 72% of women said they worked for a company that had a pervasive “bro culture”; only 41% of men responded in the same way. To clarify, this means that women are operating within a work environment that is uncomfortable and may even involve sexual harassment and assault.

This all undoubtedly affects any woman’s ability to succeed in the industry and greatly hinders their opportunities for mentorship and sponsorship. Those in power in these companies will often not recognize these issues within such a male-dominated culture. In addition to the wage and opportunity gaps, there's also a perception gap. Many men in the IT workforce, who are not impacted by the challenges these women face, remain silent and fail to raise awareness or advocate for change.

The disparities that exist for women within the tech industry are as large as ever and the challenges that women still face should no longer be swept under the rug. Women in that industry, especially those of color and who identify as LGBTQ+, must contend with existing in an unequal space. Even though there have been attempts for increased awareness of diversity issues, progress has been far too slow, and in some cases, regressive. Until efforts to bring inclusivity into the tech industry are genuinely prioritized, the gender gap in tech will persist indefinitely. If it does, the industry will continue to miss out on the innovation and talent that women can bring.