Nurturing, empathy, passion - one of the first things that comes to our minds when we say these words, is the picture of a mother or more generically, that of a woman. Do not be surprised when I tell you that these are the same qualities that
are much needed in the technology industry these days.
That’s right - qualities that are stereotypically branded as “feminine” such as these, are very much important to establish trust and confidence in the various areas of the technology business segment.
More than that, recent studies tell us that around 20% of Computer Science degree holders are women. If that’s the case, where are they in the workforce?
Historically, it has been observed that the fields of Science, Technology, and Maths - collectively known as STEM, have remained mostly male-dominated. Despite having an increased number of professional degree holders among women, some of the facts about their contribution to this area will surprise you.
Although women make up nearly 50 percent of the labor force, there is a mere 28 % of women as compared to 72% of men, in STEM fields.
Even though one can account that the number of women taking up STEM degrees is increasing, proportionately is the increase in the number of men taking up the same - because of which this gender gap is increasing.
Another major thought that must have crossed our minds when we think about this can be- how many women CEOs and other C suite executives do we know about within our community? Let me break it to you - only 12% of board members in the Information Technology industry, in the world, are female.
STEM Gap
This imbalance of gender representation is a major factor that the STEM sector of today, needs to focus on. Various reasons have been considered for the existence of this disparity, ranging from societal discrimination, lack of adequate support and mentorship, harassment, lack of parental encouragement, and lack of role models (the last one being something which I have personally observed).
Even though several other factors add to this issue, such as the comparative advantage that men may have over women in the workplace, one of the major factors that lie in its core, is the lack of confidence women have. Having personally faced this at many instances of my life, the most important thing women need to realize is that - sometimes we are our own enemies.
One moment of courage is all that we need to step up and take the responsibility to follow our dreams.
Most of the factors which are prevalent in our world today, can be overcome if we believe in our strengths, work for our passions, and learn to deal with our weaknesses. The world works for the ones who believe in their competence, sometimes it is as simple as that. If women don’t believe in their identities, enhance their skill set, pursue their interests, and learn to be competent for themselves, how can we expect organizations and companies to encourage more women to actively be a part of them?
It is also necessary to remember that your responsibility is not over once you have become part of a workforce that supports your qualities - it is up to us, irrespective of our gender, to constantly learn and unlearn.
Various organizations aim to encourage women to explore male-dominated STEM fields. Be a part of their efforts, work on new ideas, collaborate on projects, take initiatives, partner with like-minded individuals, engage in mentorship, and keep upskilling. These are necessary not just for today, but for a brighter tomorrow.
Opportunities come to those who are not afraid to knock - and it’s time for us to stop staring at that door and lift our hands.
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