The Importance of Community for Women in Tech

By: Jayashree Iyer

The technology sector has a history of lacking in gender diversity, with only 25% of its workforce being women. Even more so, only “3% of computing-related jobs are held by African-American women, 6% held by Asian women, and 2% held by Hispanic women” (Builtin, 2021). According to Williams (2015), women are being pushed out of tech because of workplace environments and long-standing biases. One such bias, prove-it-again, can become debilitating when endured consistently, where women’s accomplishments and successes are being discounted. Two-thirds of women in tech, especially women of color, report experiencing this bias in the workplace (Harvard Business Review, 2021). A lack of support and questioning of women’s expertise requires further action and changes in workplace attitude and culture.

Another bias, the tightrope, centers around behaving in a masculine way instead of feminine to be perceived as adept and capable. However, women are expected to be feminine, which can be wrongly associated with compliant and subservient behaviors. This creates a tightrope that women in tech have to precariously walk, but achieving a balance between the two attributes is impossible and should not be necessary. When women act decisively and speak their mind, behaviors that are traditionally associated with masculinity, it can be perceived as aggressive, hostile, and fulfill negative stereotypes that influence how colleagues treat them. In the same Harvard article, “a cancer biologist reported that she refrained from getting too animated in lab meetings, lest she trigger the ‘angry black woman’ stereotype.” Such biases create a formidable, uncomfortable, and discouraging environment that can push women out of tech.

To combat this, women in tech have connected and collaborated to create a plethora of databases, programs, and resources for fellow women to create a community of support and encourage gender diversity. Check out Women’s Techmakers, a program designed for women in tech to easily access resources and support from other women in the field. A recent initiative developed by the program in Black Women in Tech, a campaign led by ambassadors to discuss diverse experiences and stories during their careers. This campaign shares several firsthand accounts of black women and their defining moments, contributions, and advice. Yolanda, a program manager for Black Women in Tech, emphasized that all skill sets are transferable and to not be intimidated by the technical skills required. She advised, “Focus on what interests you in the industry and be good at it. Which means study, get certified if need be, and don’t be afraid to stretch your talent and skillsets.” Another woman, an Android engineer, Madonna, expressed her gratitude for the women that surround and inspire her. She preaches, “my one-line call for action is no sisters left behind. It is not easy but we can do it together with the right support.”

The tech industry still has a ways to go when diversifying and including its employees; top-down and bottom-up actions are necessary to completely overturn outdated attitudes and societal norms. However, the online communities of support provide a great resource for women of color to share their stories, dish advice, offer grants and scholarships, and overall let fellow women know that they are not alone.

Sources:

Staggering Women In Tech Stats, Challenges and Solutions For 2021 | Built In. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://builtin.com/women-tech/women-in-tech-workplace-statistics

Williams, J. (2015). The 5 Biases Pushing Women Out of STEM. (2015). Harvard Business Review. Retrievedfrom https://hbr.org/2015/03/the-5-biases-pushing-women-out-of-stem

Women Techmakers. (n.d.). Women Techmakers. Retrieved from https://www.womentechmakers.com/

Written by:

Jayashree Iyer

Graduate Research Assistant

Jayashree is a senior at Arizona State University studying biomedical engineering. She is a student researcher working on the Cozmo/CompuPower grant during the academic year. She is passionate about women's health engineering as well as educating young women of color about careers in STEM. Through her own experiences in biomedical research in an academic setting, she is incredibly passionate about identity, power, and how it plays into perceptions in professional environments. She one day hopes to advocate for women of color in public and global health in underserved communities and create diagnostics and treatments for neglected chronic conditions. Outside of work, Jayashree spends her time reading, hiking, or learning any instrument possible.