The overall representation of women in the workforce in the United States has steadily increased over the years and presently stands at 46.6%. However, it is not balanced across sectors and industries. Certain sectors like tech have fewer women in leadership roles. Women in tech are at just 26.7% and only 22% in tech leadership roles. These numbers clearly state a huge gap that needs to be filled.
Here’s how we can get more women in tech to reduce the gender gap.
The tech world is predominantly male, where guys who have played video games and learned to code since childhood excel. Many believe it forms an unconscious bias toward men in the tech world; hence, most HR officials pick male candidates over female ones during interviews. However, most people won’t accept they have this bias. Acceptance is the first step toward solving any problem. With acceptance, more people will come forward and take measures to change such an archaic bias rooted in gender inequality.
People in power are obligated to make decisions that have large-scale implications. However, they can only see and discern things from their perspective. Your perspective is often developed by a collection of things such as your ethnicity, cultural background, education, gender, and thought process. A diverse group of leaders provides different perspectives, leading to better decision-making. Educating leaders about the role of gender parity in the tech world can encourage them to promote more women and people of diverse backgrounds to leadership roles to ensure well-rounded and balanced decisions.
Having an inclusive work culture where everyone is treated equally isn't a problem just for women or other minorities. Male members are a part of it too, especially in the tech industry where the male workforce dominates. That’s why it is essential to have male members who consider female counterparts in the workforce as equals and treat them with the same respect as their male colleagues.
It is essential to build a strong tech career foundation for women at an early age. Little girls should know they have opportunities in the tech industry should they decide to step foot in it. They should also be taught the skills they will need to flourish in these fields, so they can have a strong chance of landing the jobs they want in the tech field later on. It also gives them more time in the industry to gain experience and become better leaders.
Learning from tech leaders in the early stages of their careers can help women in tech become better leaders themselves. Having strong mentors is critical to improving their skills, confidence, and networks to become formidable leaders in the tech world.
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